American art landscape overwhelmingly fixated on 'political correctness', according to Klaus Biesenbach, found unendurable
In a surprising move, Klaus Biesenbach, a prominent curator, has left his significant career in the American museum world to lead the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin. Biesenbach, who previously served as artistic director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles (MOCA) and director of MoMA PS1, has been a polarizing figure in the US art scene.
Biesenbach's departure from the US art scene was attributed to what he described as "political correctness" in the American museum world. However, specific details about his perspective on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, political correctness, or his motivations for the move to Germany remain unclear, as no publicly available statements reveal his explicit views on these topics.
During his tenure at both PS1 and MOCA, Biesenbach was known for being one of the first to show more art by women than by men and one of the first to exhibit Black artists. In 2021, the museum restructured its leadership, with Biesenach becoming artistic director and Johanna Burton as executive director.
The move to Germany was announced just a week after the restructuring was made public. Biesenbach's tenure at the Neue Nationalgalerie has been marked by controversy, particularly surrounding the opening of the Nan Goldin show at the Neue Nationalgalerie last year. Goldin called Israel's military action in Gaza a "genocide" during the opening, and Biesenbach publicly rebutted her speech.
Biesenbach also faced accusations of using museum resources to cozy up to famous people, such as the Museum of Modern Art's 2015 Björk survey. He has been accused of being insensitive to political issues, as seen in his decision to prefer not to participate in internal Zoom conferences held following the 2020 murder of George Floyd by the police in Minneapolis, where people were expected to discuss discrimination and social justice.
Despite the controversies, Biesenbach's move to Germany is framed as a professional step to lead one of the most anticipated new museums, suggesting a focus on new opportunities rather than an explicitly political or cultural statement. Biesenbach shared a narrative from his teenage years, growing up in a small town in Germany with knowledge of the Holocaust, and spending a summer on a kibbutz in Israel with the Action Reconciliation Service [for Peace, a German organization founded to confront the specter of Nazism after World War II].
As Biesenbach embarks on his new role at the Neue Nationalgalerie, it remains to be seen how he will navigate the complexities of the German museum world and whether he will address the controversies that surrounded his tenure in the US.
- Klaus Biesenbach, a curator who left a significant career in the American museum world, will now lead the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin.
- Biesenbach, known for exhibiting more art by women and Black artists, faced controversies during his tenure at both PS1 and MOCA in the US.
- The art world has been following Biesenbach's move to Germany with anticipation, as he is set to lead one of the most anticipated new museums.
- Biesenbach's departure from the US art scene and move to Germany was not due to explicit political or cultural reasons, but considered a professional step.
- During his time in the US, Biesenbach was accused of using museum resources to gain favor with famous people and being insensitive to political issues.
- Biesenbach's new role at the Neue Nationalgalerie will likely involve navigating the complexities of the German art world, addressing the controversies surrounding his tenure in the US, and perhaps sharing his perspectives on art, social-media, entertainment, and pop-culture through books and discussions.
