An empty space can be a work of art. Yves Klein brought this very idea to life at Haus Lange in 1961: For his exhibition “Yves Klein—Monochromes and Fire,” he completely cleared out a hall and declared the emptiness to be the artwork. Le Vide—“The Space of Emptiness”—is still preserved at Haus Lange today. At this historic site, the Krefeld Art Museums will now present the exhibition “Yves Klein 100: Immaterial Spaces of Art and Architecture” from September 26, 2027, through February 27, 2028.
Marking the 100th anniversary of the French artist’s birth in 2028, the exhibition focuses for the first time on his relationship between art, architecture, and space. It traces a path from Klein’s famous monochrome paintings and his fire works to designs in which color, air, energy, and emptiness become artistic materials in their own right. Visitors can view drawings, models, and documents—including monumental blue reliefs that Klein created between 1957 and 1959 for the Musiktheater im Revier in Gelsenkirchen, as well as architectural designs developed in collaboration with Claude Parent in 1960–61.
The exhibition, organized in cooperation with the Adolf Luther Foundation and the Yves Klein Foundation, also highlights Klein’s close ties to the Rhine-Ruhr region. At the same time, Haus Ester is showcasing works by the Nouveau Réalistes and other artists of the 1950s and 1960s. The exhibition thus not only helps visitors understand Yves Klein’s radical conception of art but also his lasting influence on the development of contemporary art and architecture.
Services
- Admission to the exhibition “Kunst Hand Werk Brücke” at Haus Lange
- Admission to additional exhibitions at the Bauhaus villas Haus Lange and Haus Esters
- Admission to the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum, including its permanent and special exhibitions (when purchasing the combined ticket for all three venues of the Krefeld Art Museums)
