The Deka Art Collection
Around 1,600 works by more than 450 artists from all over the world: this is the art collection that Deka has been building since 2003. It represents the company's social commitment and showcases contemporary art with all its productive power and creative potential. Painting, drawing, photography, video, sculpture, installation, and digital art – the entire spectrum of media is considered to expand the collection.
The art collection was displayed at the company's headquarters in Frankfurt, the Trianon high-rise, and since 2022, it has also been exhibited in Deka's new building in Frankfurt Niederrad: here, the artworks are hung on the employees' floors and in the conference floors. The works also frequently travel: we regularly lend pieces from our collection for exhibitions to museums and institutions around the world.
The art collection was displayed at the company's headquarters in Frankfurt, the Trianon high-rise, and since 2022, it has also been exhibited in Deka's new building in Frankfurt Niederrad: here, the artworks are hung on the employees' floors and in the conference floors. The works also frequently travel: we regularly lend pieces from our collection for exhibitions to museums and institutions around the world.
© courtesy of Liam Gillick and Esther Schipper, Berlin, Foto: Wolfgang Günzel
Installations by Liam Gillick at Deka (Applied Discussion Platform, 2003, anodized aluminium, powder-coated aluminium sheets and Renovation Filtration, 2003, acrylic on wall)
Art opens up new perspectives for us by using a purely visual language of forms to reflect current issues in society as well as the people that define our lives. I always find these encounters within the company exciting!
The art collection is an important part of DekaBank's cultural engagement. We promote up-and-coming artists by giving special consideration to talented young people. The collection shows how diverse contemporary art is and therefore includes a wide range of different media, such as paintings, drawings, photographs, videos, sculptures, installation art and digital art.
Exhibitions at Deka's locations encourage discussions among employees and business partners. The collection is integrated into the Company's day-to-day life and allows people to come into direct contact with contemporary art. We would like to invite viewers to look at the art with an open mind and reflect on the themes.
Exhibitions at Deka's locations encourage discussions among employees and business partners. The collection is integrated into the Company's day-to-day life and allows people to come into direct contact with contemporary art. We would like to invite viewers to look at the art with an open mind and reflect on the themes.
Two locations for the Deka Art Collection
The Deka art collection was presented at two locations: In the Trianon, artworks were displayed until the move to the new headquarters in the FOUR, including on the 44th floor. Under the title "The Deka Art Collection – A Mirror of Society," established artists such as Corinne Wasmuht and Thomas Bayrle, as well as young, emerging artists like Daniel Gustav Cramer and Jagoda Bednarsky, were showcased.
Particularly exciting was the dialogue between these works and the commissioned pieces by Katharina Grosse and Liam Gillick, which were created for the 44th floor in 2003. These are among the central works of our art collection.
Particularly exciting was the dialogue between these works and the commissioned pieces by Katharina Grosse and Liam Gillick, which were created for the 44th floor in 2003. These are among the central works of our art collection.
Both new and site-specific commissioned works as well as pieces from the existing Deka collection were considered in the art concept for the modern office building in Niederrad, which is oriented towards the new world of work. They make the Deka building a vibrant, innovative, and distinctive place.
In the spring of 2022, around 240 works moved from the Trianon in Frankfurt's Westend to Niederrad. In addition, three installations were commissioned for the public areas, expanding the collection with new media and digital positions:
Zilla Leutenegger's installation "Lampelino" in the open staircase between the ground floor and the conference floor delights with its lightness and liveliness. Spanish-American artist Daniel Canogar created a generative artwork, driven by algorithms, for the LED wall in the foyer. And the café right at the entrance area is transformed into an expressive, communicative meeting point by eleven extraordinary light sculptures by Frankfurt-based artist Stefan Wieland.
In the spring of 2022, around 240 works moved from the Trianon in Frankfurt's Westend to Niederrad. In addition, three installations were commissioned for the public areas, expanding the collection with new media and digital positions:
Zilla Leutenegger's installation "Lampelino" in the open staircase between the ground floor and the conference floor delights with its lightness and liveliness. Spanish-American artist Daniel Canogar created a generative artwork, driven by algorithms, for the LED wall in the foyer. And the café right at the entrance area is transformed into an expressive, communicative meeting point by eleven extraordinary light sculptures by Frankfurt-based artist Stefan Wieland.
© Kirsten Bucher
Experience the Deka Art Collection
Art enthusiasts, people interested in art and even those who are sceptical are all welcome, as we can introduce people to contemporary art in tours and increase awareness of the collection. During the conversations, it becomes clear that art has the ability to create openness and tolerance to unfamiliar perspectives. As a result, Deka's involvement with art also fulfils an educational mission.
In 2005, "Kunst privat! Hessische Unternehmen zeigen ihre Kunst" (Private art! Hessian companies show their art collections) was launched by the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Transport and Regional Development. Deka has been involved in this initiative since that time and offers visitors a glimpse into its art collection.
In 2005, "Kunst privat! Hessische Unternehmen zeigen ihre Kunst" (Private art! Hessian companies show their art collections) was launched by the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Transport and Regional Development. Deka has been involved in this initiative since that time and offers visitors a glimpse into its art collection.
Deka and the MMK: a partnership for art
The MUSEUM MMK FÜR MODERNE KUNST Frankfurt am Main (MMK, Museum of Modern Art) Frankfurt am Main is one of the most important institutions for contemporary art. More than 5,000 works from the 1960s to the present form the museum’s collection – and the number of works is growing all the time: The MMK is constantly adding important works to its collection. To ensure that it can continue to do so, we have been supporting the MMK with EUR 40,000 per year since 2002.
The MMK now has three locations in Frankfurt: In addition to the MUSEUM MMK and the ZOLLAMT MMK, the TOWER MMK was founded in 2014. Close by, in the TaunusTurm in Frankfurt’s banking district, it presents changing special exhibitions and collection presentations on current topics. As a founding partner of the TOWER MMK we support the exhibitions at this third location of the museum together with other partners.
Frankfurt am Main is one of the most important locations for museums in Germany. Our support for the MMK helps the city to strengthen its cultural importance. An important goal of the partnership is to promote presentation and learning about contemporary art, so that it can fulfil its important educational mission. This is because art can help one's understanding – which is highly important at a time when society is facing many major challenges.
The MMK now has three locations in Frankfurt: In addition to the MUSEUM MMK and the ZOLLAMT MMK, the TOWER MMK was founded in 2014. Close by, in the TaunusTurm in Frankfurt’s banking district, it presents changing special exhibitions and collection presentations on current topics. As a founding partner of the TOWER MMK we support the exhibitions at this third location of the museum together with other partners.
Frankfurt am Main is one of the most important locations for museums in Germany. Our support for the MMK helps the city to strengthen its cultural importance. An important goal of the partnership is to promote presentation and learning about contemporary art, so that it can fulfil its important educational mission. This is because art can help one's understanding – which is highly important at a time when society is facing many major challenges.
© Foto: Axel Schneider
MUSEUM MMK
The MMK hosts the Deka Art Collection
In 2018, Deka turned 100 years old. A special occasion for an extraordinary exhibition: The MMK invited Deka to show key works from its corporate collection in a museum for the first time. The result was the exhibition “Social Façades. A Dialogue between the Collections of MMK and DekaBank”. It highlighted the conceptual, thematic and artistic connections of both collections.
As part of this anniversary exhibition, the MMK received a donation of four works from the Deka Art Collection, including three large-scale installations by the artists Michael Elmgreen & Ingar Dragset, Michael Beutler, Tue Greenfort and a sculpture by Martin
Kippenberger.
Take a look at the works in the anniversary exhibition: Learn more about the exhibition on the MMK website.
As part of this anniversary exhibition, the MMK received a donation of four works from the Deka Art Collection, including three large-scale installations by the artists Michael Elmgreen & Ingar Dragset, Michael Beutler, Tue Greenfort and a sculpture by Martin
Kippenberger.
Take a look at the works in the anniversary exhibition: Learn more about the exhibition on the MMK website.
© © Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Foto: David Pinzer
Visitors to the Staatliche Kunstsammlung (State Art Collection) in Dresden
World famous paintings, sparkling jewels: Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
The Dresden museum landscape is spectacular. Some of Europe’s most famous museums are located in Dresden. We wish to preserve this unique cultural heritage and to communicate its extraordinary importance to the people. For this reason, we have been the main sponsor of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD, Dresden State Art Collections) together with other institutions of the German Savings Bank Finance Group (Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe) since 2006.
We support the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden in major projects that have been international sensations, for example:
We support the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden in major projects that have been international sensations, for example:
- The restored Grüne Gewölbe (Historic Green Vault) opened in 2006, where more than 3,000 unique works of jewellery and goldsmith’s art sparkle and shine: It shows as faithfully as possible the state of the treasury under August the Strong.
- In 2010 the redesigned Albertinum was reopened. It shows the Galerie Neue Meister (New Masters Gallery) and the Skulpturensammlung (Sculpture Collection) with art of the 19th and 20th centuries and the present.
- In 2020 the Zwinger mit Semperbau (Semper Building at the Zwinger) was reopened with the works of the world-famous Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery) of the Skulpturensammlung (Sculpture Collection) until 1800.
German Savings Bank Finance Group support for the SKD
Young people are especially important to us. The museum should be a place of learning for them. As a member of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, we therefore support the S-Schülerlabor: Here, students gain direct insights into the research conducted at the museum. For example, they examine the art historical value of the works themselves, analyze the materials, and research their origins. This makes art research tangible and lively.
The Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe is the largest cultural sponsor in Germany after the public sector. The support of the SKD is an example of the important social commitment of the Sparkassen and their affiliated partners. Furthermore, the institutes involved in the support, such as DekaBank, aim to make the extraordinary breadth and depth of the SKD's art collections accessible to the public. Sparkassen customers enjoy a special benefit with a 15% discount on the admission price. For more information, please click here.
The Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe is the largest cultural sponsor in Germany after the public sector. The support of the SKD is an example of the important social commitment of the Sparkassen and their affiliated partners. Furthermore, the institutes involved in the support, such as DekaBank, aim to make the extraordinary breadth and depth of the SKD's art collections accessible to the public. Sparkassen customers enjoy a special benefit with a 15% discount on the admission price. For more information, please click here.
© Exhibition "Caspar David Friedrich. Where It All Began"
"Caspar David Friedrich. Where It All Began"
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Nationalgalerie / Fotograf: Andres Kilger
Return of the painting “The Watzmann” by Caspar David Friedrich to Berlin’s Alte Nationalgalerie.
The Watzmann
It is considered one of the most significant landscape paintings of the Romantic period: "The Watzmann," created in 1824/25 by Caspar David Friedrich. Since 1937, it was part of the collection of the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin. In 2003, it was revealed that the painting's history is troubled: Martin Brunn, a Jewish art collector and owner of "The Watzmann," was forced to sell the painting under pressure from the Nazis. In 2004, the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz returned the work to Martin Brunn's heirs.
The Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe has always been committed to preserving this unique painting as part of the national cultural heritage. On behalf of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, DekaBank purchased "The Watzmann" and lent it to the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz as a permanent loan. This allowed the work to remain in the Alte Nationalgalerie. To this day, it draws the attention of visitors in the Friedrichsaal – captivating them with a masterpiece of cultural history.
After being presented in the exhibition Caspar David Friedrich and the Precursors of Romanticism at the Museum Georg Schäfer in Schweinfurt and the Kunst Museum Winterthur, "The Watzmann" is currently on display at the Albertinum in Dresden as part of the exhibition "Caspar David Friedrich. Where It All Began."
The Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe has always been committed to preserving this unique painting as part of the national cultural heritage. On behalf of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, DekaBank purchased "The Watzmann" and lent it to the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz as a permanent loan. This allowed the work to remain in the Alte Nationalgalerie. To this day, it draws the attention of visitors in the Friedrichsaal – captivating them with a masterpiece of cultural history.
After being presented in the exhibition Caspar David Friedrich and the Precursors of Romanticism at the Museum Georg Schäfer in Schweinfurt and the Kunst Museum Winterthur, "The Watzmann" is currently on display at the Albertinum in Dresden as part of the exhibition "Caspar David Friedrich. Where It All Began."