Intervention

The »Interventions« (exhibitions) at KioskShop Berlin (KSb)
After an eleven-year hiatus, a tradition of the site, the permanent and site-specific installation »KioskShop berlin (KSb)« by Semjon H. N. Semjon, is being revived: the »Interventions« exhibition series. Presumably, such a dialogue exhibition will take place twice a year.

For the artist, this is a special challenge, it is not a white cube, a classic gallery space with bare and white walls (like next door in Semjon Contemporary's main space). On the contrary. The dominance of the Gesamtkunstwerk »KioskShop« is omnipresent, and the guest must assert himself against it, either in playful complement or in demanding opposition.
Semjon H. N. Semjon in August 2022

Intervention XXX-03: Ellinor Euler @ KioskShop berlin (KSb)
22.4. –3.6..2023
Pressemitteilung
Press release
3d visit 

Intervention XXX-02: Marlies von Soden @ KioskShop berlin (KSb)
10.12.2022 –25.2.2023 (extended)
Pressemitteilung
Press release
3d visit

Intervention XXX-01: Petra Tödter @ KioskShop berlin (KSb)
27.8. – 1.10.2021
Pressemitteilung
Press release
3d visit

History of the »Intervention« exhibition series
Between 2003 and 2011 there were KioskShop 33 33 »Intervententions« with artists invited by Semjon H. N. Semjon to his 'gesamtkunstwerk'. KioskShop itself was (and is again) a publicly accessible installation tailored to the store unit. Between the first life from November 2000 and the spring of 2010, before walls were pre-built for another installation of the artist (»Construction of the Modern«), more than 7,000 visitors had visited the unusual place.
In 2011 the artist founded Semjon Contemporary, took over the KSb space (now turned into a salon) and used it as Semjon Contemporary's 'Salon Cabinet'. Thus, two store units, each with a shop window, resulted in the gallery space.

In the course of the termination of the premises at the end of 2021 after 21 years by Nicolas Berggruen Holdings, KioskShop »KioskShop« was freed from the walls built in front of it, in order to show it to the public for the last time. A removal would have inevitably meant its destruction. The fact that the great art collector and patron Nicolas Berggruen would have been responsible for the possible destruction of this unique Berlin 'gesamtkunstwerk' was not without a certain tragicomedy. Semjon's communication of the story of a real art disaster was to reach him as far as Los Angeles. Shortly before the court date for eviction obtained by the holding company, an amicable agreement was reached with it in February. KSb will be secured until the end of March 2027 for the time being. KSb can be read as an enrichment for Semjon Contemporary, as a new challenge, since Semjon had radically gone through his artistic sabbatical (except for individual drawing sessions) for 10 years. Nicolas Berggruen had - without knowing it - prepared the stage for Semjon's artistic 'coming out', kissed him awake as an artist again!