Zilkens'
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Zilkens' News Blog 18 2026

That would have been something! A weekend without hearing a peep from the land of the former Big Brother and its president – and then a botched attack on a meal with correspondents, leaving you wondering how anyone could check in with a weapon when it was common knowledge that the self-promoter with the simple sentence structure would be there. In every shopping centre in Manila, you have to go through metal detectors; there isn’t a single hotel where you don’t have to put your wallet through the scanner... – And in the land of never ending opportunity? – Exactly that!

The German Association for Art History (formerly known as the Association of German Art Historians) re-elected and appointed new members to its Executive Board at this year’s General Meeting in Munich on 28 February. Kerstin Thomas and Peter Schmidt were re-elected as First and Second Chairpersons for the next four years, as were Christoph Grunenberg for the Museums professional group and Martin Bredenbeck for Heritage Conservation. University and research will be represented by Carolin Behrmann, and the freelance professions by the newly elected Isa Bickmann. We bid a grateful farewell to Anna Schreurs-Morét and Ruth Heftrig, who have done excellent work on the Executive Board for four and seven years respectively.

Cultural sovereignty of the federal states is a top priority in our federal system. Nevertheless, ever since Gerhard Schröder was Chancellor, there has been a Minister of State for Culture of various genders who looks after overarching cultural matters in Germany. This included the Cultural Property Protection Act, which brought the antiquities trade in Germany to a standstill. The current incumbent is not exactly basking in a cloud of popularity either. One rather gets the impression that the force of gravity is increasingly taking hold, thanks in part to FAZ editor Andreas Kilb. I’m curious to see whether he’ll be spotted at the opening of the German Pavilion in Venice – oh wait, that’s the IFA’s responsibility, and it falls under the Foreign Ministry. Perhaps Wolfram Weimer should return to his publishing house?

Round-the-clock media bombardment – no test card on TV after midnight, screen-free periods are a rarity, and since visual consumption increasingly takes place via smartphones, tablets and apps, entirely different algorithms are accessing our behaviour. Sometimes you get the feeling your smartphone is eavesdropping on you. If you voice your thoughts about a product, it’s offered as an advert on Facebook and the like shortly afterwards. Teleshopping can’t compete with that anymore. Little by little, these channels are shutting down – a business model on its way out.

Zurich has a Green Party president of the cantonal government: his name is Martin Neukomm, and he usually ensures that cyclists have right of way over pedestrians and motorists. The man is just 40 and, presumably because of his prominent position, urgently needs an oil portrait for his office. That is why he commissioned Hans Witschi to paint him three times. The canton has to spend CHF 20,000 on this. The Green taste-maker rejected all three. It is interesting that Greens concern themselves with old feudal and bourgeois self-representation and then exercise censorship in the process.

Gallery Weekend begins in Berlin on Thursday. It will be interesting to see what turns up on the streets this time. Anyone wanting to travel back from Berlin to Cologne or Düsseldorf on Saturday will have to take the train – there are no connections on that day. Let’s hope no one throws themselves in front of the train.

The Venice Biennale opens a week later and is already sending out strong signals: The jury for the Golden Lion consists entirely of women: Solange Oliveira Farkas, Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma and Giovanna Zapperi were appointed last week. And they seem to have courage, as they do not intend to award the prize to any nation whose president is wanted by the International Criminal Court. This applies to Israel and Russia. This Biennale is likely to be significantly more political than some of its predecessors.

Markus Lüpertz, who likes to present himself as a prince of painters, is turning 85. Congratulations from us too.

Liberty Specialty Markets has announced via LinkedIn that, as of 1 May, Bjoern Reusswig will take on the role of European Underwriting Manager for Contingency, Fine Art & Specie and War & Terrorism, in addition to his existing responsibilities. Paolo Frassetto will become European Underwriting Manager for Fine Art & Specie. Bjoern Reusswig reports to David Saillen, the Chief Underwriting Officer for Europe.

We wish our readers a pleasant start to the week

Stephan Zilkens and the team at Zilkens Fine Art Insurance Broker GmbH in Solothurn and Cologne