The Taschen Collection
Interview with Benedikt Taschen. By Marga Paz, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. On the occasion of the exhibition at the museum. 20th October 2004 – 15th January 2005
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MP: This is the first time your collection is going to be seen in public. Why haven`t you shown it before?
BT:That`s not totally true, the art I collect is at our offices all over the world. The reason why we moved into an old bourgeois-style villa in Cologne was that it had six-meter high ceilings to hang paintings. It inspires our staff, visiting friends and the artists I work with. Once you start lending pieces, you need an entire team to take care of it — some works would come back damaged or, in one case, never at all. What`s more, I would miss the pieces because they are a part of my life. But when the Museum Reina Sofía approached me a couple of years ago about showing the collection I loved the idea; not only because it is one of the most renowned institutions in the world, but the curator shared my view on the artists who are important to me. And I was thrilled to see it put together by someone I trust.
MP: Have you ever thought of the future of your collection as a public institution?
BT: No, I have not. I collect for myself and for my children. They have grown up with the art and the artists who are the world for me. And so I believe it will enrich their lives, in all ways, I hope. When I was a child my parents gave me a present of some works by the photographer Chargesheimer. I am continuing this tradition, having decided to give my children a work of art for their birthdays. This gave rise to heart-rending scenes, for example: "No Pocahonta doll for you this year. You`re getting a Koons." And the children: "Oh no, just a Koons this year! That`s not fair, Dad! All the other children are getting Lion King toys and Tamagotchies." To which I said: "Take the Pink Panther and you`ll love it!"
MP: Which is the last piece of art you bought?
BT: The last pieces I bought were by Christopher Wool, Darren Almond and Albert Oehlen.
Page 1 2 3 4
Page 1 2 3 4
MP: This is the first time your collection is going to be seen in public. Why haven`t you shown it before?
BT:That`s not totally true, the art I collect is at our offices all over the world. The reason why we moved into an old bourgeois-style villa in Cologne was that it had six-meter high ceilings to hang paintings. It inspires our staff, visiting friends and the artists I work with. Once you start lending pieces, you need an entire team to take care of it — some works would come back damaged or, in one case, never at all. What`s more, I would miss the pieces because they are a part of my life. But when the Museum Reina Sofía approached me a couple of years ago about showing the collection I loved the idea; not only because it is one of the most renowned institutions in the world, but the curator shared my view on the artists who are important to me. And I was thrilled to see it put together by someone I trust.
MP: Have you ever thought of the future of your collection as a public institution?
BT: No, I have not. I collect for myself and for my children. They have grown up with the art and the artists who are the world for me. And so I believe it will enrich their lives, in all ways, I hope. When I was a child my parents gave me a present of some works by the photographer Chargesheimer. I am continuing this tradition, having decided to give my children a work of art for their birthdays. This gave rise to heart-rending scenes, for example: "No Pocahonta doll for you this year. You`re getting a Koons." And the children: "Oh no, just a Koons this year! That`s not fair, Dad! All the other children are getting Lion King toys and Tamagotchies." To which I said: "Take the Pink Panther and you`ll love it!"
MP: Which is the last piece of art you bought?
BT: The last pieces I bought were by Christopher Wool, Darren Almond and Albert Oehlen.
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