Kunst im Westend—Kochhaus

Kunst im Westend e.V. is an initiative of the DRK Kliniken Berlin Westend and has been integrating high-end contemporary art into the daily operations of the clinic since 2002. Curated exhibitions and commissioned site-specific works are presented in wards, waiting areas and across the historical clinic campus; accompanied by an interdisciplinary cultural programme. The hospital is regarded as an exhibition venue that is both independent and extraordinary, featuring works by internationally renowned artists and exciting newcomers: from Leiko Ikemura, Georg Baselitz, Heinz Mack, Otto Piene or Thomas Florschütz to Ruohan Wang, Nadine Schemmann, Yang Shen and Tobias Hoffknecht. For us, art is an integral part of health care: creating spaces for connection, supporting recovery and resilience, promoting dialogue and cultural participation for patients, visitors and staff. In doing so, the association is pioneering work in the field of ›Arts in Health‹ long before concepts such as ‘museum on prescription’ were widely discussed.  

During Berlin Art Week, the historic Kochhaus of the DRK Kliniken Berlin Westend becomes the central exhibition venue: the charismatic, heritage-protected site brings together contemporary art, hospital history, and Gründerzeit architecture to create an extraordinary spatial experience.