The “Feldversuch #5: Saito – Ay-O” exhibition at Museum Abteiberg, continuing until 22 November 2026, approaches the ontological foundations of the Fluxus movement and its methodologies of visual archiving from an academic perspective. This final phase of the SAMMLUNG/ARCHIV ANDERSCH research series—presented in alphabetical order since 2021—centers on Fluxus’s concept of ludicity and the democratization process of the art object.
The exhibition critically examines the transformative role of the notion of “play” within art history as one of the constitutive elements of the Fluxus movement. Takako Saito’s modified chess games and Ay-O’s sensory works document the shift of the object from a mere aesthetic object of contemplation to an instrument of participatory interaction. The artists’ use of humor as a form of resistance and expression finds concrete expression in the graphic works of Tomas Schmit and André Thomkins, as well as in Daniel Spoerri’s pioneering “Edition MAT” (Multiplication d’Art Transformable) series of reproducible works. This approach challenges the uniqueness of the artwork and reinforces Fluxus’s interdisciplinary and anti-hierarchical character.
From Archive to Museum: The Institutional Transformation of the Andersch Collection
Assembled with great care by Dorothee and Erik Andersch from the late 1960s onward, the collection contains works and documents by more than 50 artists. Incorporated into the Museum Abteiberg inventory in 2017, this vast archive is currently evolving into a Schaumagazin format within the framework of the exhibition. This museological transformation reflects the museum’s vision of becoming not only a display space but also an active research center focused on the art practices of the 1960s and 1970s. Feldversuch #5 incorporates visitor feedback into this institutional development process, presenting a participatory curatorial model.
Highlighted Concepts / Groups of Works
- Takako Saito – Interactive game objects and chess series
- Ay-O – “Rainbow” series and sensory installations
- Daniel Spoerri – Edition MAT and reproducibility in object art
- Ben Vautier – Linguistic conceptualism and Fluxus manifestos
- Wolf Vostell – Dé-coll/age and media critique
Academic Programme and Interactive Events
Curated by Melanie Seidler, the exhibition is accompanied by an extensive accompanying programme designed to create an academic discussion platform. The “Spieleabend” (Games Evening) on 19 February 2026 and the evening academy “Fluxus – Kunst in der Box” (Art in the Box), led by Ulrike Engelke, aim to combine the materialist and performance-based structure of the movement with practical experience. Additionally, the “Gaming & Fluxus” tour scheduled for 19 April 2026 will analyze conceptual parallels between contemporary digital gaming culture and historical Fluxus strategies.
Feldversuch #5: Saito – Ay-O goes beyond preserving the historical legacy of Fluxus; it reactivates this legacy within the framework of current art discourses. By positioning art as a “field experiment,” it turns the viewer into an active subject of the aesthetic experience and transforms the museum space into an arena for social dialogue.
Photo: Achim Kukulies
