In the late 1960s, a group of young art educators from the environment of the Munich Art Academy began to fundamentally rethink art education. Under the name KEKS – short for Kunst, Erziehung, Kybernetik, Soziologie (Art, Education, Cybernetics, Sociology) – they left the classroom behind to use urban space as a site of lived experience. Emphasising active engagement over passive reception, they placed action at the centre of their practice, questioning both art and society. Their work navigated the space between art and art education. In 1970, KEKS was invited to the 35th Venice Biennale, where their contribution Biennale Bambini gained nationwide recognition.
KEKS was also active at Haus der Kunst in 1972. For the exhibition “Weltkulturen und moderne Kunst” (World Cultures and Modern Art) held on the occasion of the Olympic Games, the group designed a children’s and youth centre. The museum was deliberately conceived as a space for action—an approach that actively involved young visitors in art and culture and redefined the museum as a playful learning environment.
The exhibition in the Archiv Galerie is part of the comprehensive exhibition “For Children. Art Stories since 1968” and marks its historical point of departure. It features largely unpublished materials from the personal archives of KEKS members. Many of their actions remain strikingly relevant today.
Curated by Sabine Brantl