We want to buy tomorrow's Basquiat

Stefan Vilsmeier founded today's Brainlab AG at the age of 21 with the vision 'I want to improve the status quo in cancer therapy'. For more than 35 years, the global company with 2,400 employees at 25 locations has stood for innovation in digital medical technology - with the aim of actively shaping the healthcare system of the future.

Stefan Vilsmeier and Sergio Linhares collect contemporary works from the African diaspora, African-American and Afro-Brazilian art. Alongside stars such as Tomás Saraceno of Arthur Java, the two passionate collectors are particularly interested in artists who deal with socially relevant issues such as feminism, structural violence or migration: Art that makes you think and takes you out of your comfort zone.

This is also a concern of gallery owner Dietlinde Behncke. Curator Renate Wiehager writes about the current exhibition (see Reader): Three overarching themes link the individual positions: Reintegration of nature and culture into perspectives of human action - Postcolonial issues: the female gaze and the body - Contemporary forms of spirituality'.

VOICES FROM ABROAD
09 November 2024 - 19 February 2025
Mbali Dhlamini (*1990 ZA), Nnenna Okore (*1975 AUS/NGR), Buhlebezwe Siwani (*1987 ZA)
**Curated by Dr Renate Wiehager (Head of the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection until 2023) **

Dietlinde Behncke talks to Stefan Vilsmeier about his statement "We want to buy the Basquiat of tomorrow" (Monopol, 18 April 2024) and asks him "What does Basquiat have to do with Brainlab AG?

The Munich Speech® is an exclusive, international, non-profit series of events, to discuss cutting-edge art- and culture-topics. The name Munich Speech® derives from the celebrated series „Speeking about your own country: Germany“ at the Kammerspiele Munich in 1985 with Joseph Beuys.

Produced and presented since 2014 by Dietlinde Behncke (cultural manager and journalist, formerly at ZDF headquarter Berlin), the focus lies on outstanding positions/ personalities, who change, take action for or develop visions for Munich or change an institution in the world from Munich and who receive direct and immediate attention through the Munich Speech®. Due to the corona pandemic, there were also Munich Speech® digital live streams in 2020-2022.

The events took place three to four times a year until 2022 in André and Dietlinde Behncke's private apartment. The events are currently taking place at behncke gallery, since the gallery was founded on January 31, 2023.
Previous guests in 2017 included Dr. Roger Diederen (Director Kunsthalle Munich) with the FAUST-FESTIVAL MUNICH, 2018 Dr. Angelika Nollert (Director Die Neue Sammlung - The Design Museum in the Pinakothek der Moderne), 2019 2022 Serge Dorny (Bavarian State Opera Director), 2022 Dr. Eva Kraus (Director Bundeskunsthalle Bonn) "No future without transformation?" or Andrea Lissoni (in 2021 and 2022) - Artistic Director Haus der Kunst and Sarah Haugeneder (Boardmember Various Others), Prof. Bernhard Maaz (Director General of the Bavarian State Painting Collections) on the subject of "Art deals with the essence of life" or 2024 Dr. Cathrin Klingsöhr-Leroy (Director Franz Marc Museum, Kochel).