Hannover Attractions

Venue: Sprengel Museum    When: Daily; not Mon

Hanover's Sprengel Museum hosts an important collection of 20th century art, with a special emphasis on classic modernity.

The museum was designed in 1979 (with an extension in 1992) by architects Peter und Ursula Trint (Cologne) and Dieter Quast (Heidelberg). The building's design aims to encourage a dialogue between the public and the works of art, transforming the museum into a space for communication.

The permanent exhibition primarily consists of the donation of Bernhard Sprengel's collection of modern art to the city of Hanover in 1969. The Sprengel collection contains works of German Expressionism (the Die Brücke and Blauer Reiter associations), French Cubism, Post War Abstract Art, Minimal Art, Concept Art and Post Minimal Art.

Work groups by Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, Paul Klee and James Turrell make the museum a centre for 20th century art. The permanent collection is arranged thematically and interacts with up to 25 changing exhibitions a year. Recent additions include a series of photo and media art, and the impressive donation of 400 works by Niki de Saint Phalle.