Zilkens' News Blog

Zilkens' News Blog 16 2025

In Washington, a raging man sits in the oval office and gives the term ‘volatile’ a human face, while in the German coalition negotiations, the tail has wagged the dog and not much has been left for culture except for a lot of hot air. In lines 3796 - 3953, one can read what the coalition has planned for culture and the media. At least in city and country, there would be a wealth of traditions and customs in the cultural state – they don't want to be a nation (has the SPD set itself another monument here?) and even more so: cultural policy is socially relevant (line 3800). The protection of minorities for Sorbs, Sinti and Roma, Danes and Frisians is emphasised. It is a rather contradictory blah blah which only benefits the paper industry but not the forests when printed out. In line 3820, you then find: Our country should be a beacon for free art and culture in the world. Without the necessary energetic firing (and that doesn't just mean money), these are all hollow phrases. Sometimes it would be better if such contracts consisted of key words – firstly, it's shorter and still leaves room for interpretation. The total of 4588 lines doesn't exactly help fruitful cooperation, as can be seen from the emerging interpretation of the minimum wage. The SPD would like to distribute benefits with other people's money... – has it ever been any different?

Uncertainty is growing among European and South American galleries regarding participation in American art fairs. Miami in December could become a fairly local event. Local fairs are in, anyway. Will Paris still manage to attract American collectors in autumn? Who knows? Perhaps by then the man with the rabbit skin on his head will have tightened the customs screw so much that it will no longer fit.

Allianz has been one of the sponsors of Art Düsseldorf since the beginning – it is now probably Germany's largest art insurer. Long managed by Eric Wolzenburg, Dunja Brockmann, who has a spotless career in the insurance industry behind her, is now presenting herself in Düsseldorf as his successor and will quickly learn about art. On Linkedin, she is looking for people to support the company in underwriting, using the familiar ‘du’ (the Americans also say ‘you’ to everyone...) under the rubric Firecracker x Art = (yes, what actually) people who support the company in underwriting. We keep our fingers crossed.

Last Friday, the Cologne auction house van Ham held an auction of outstanding fashion photography from the collection of Jeanne Freifrau von Oppenheim, which she had donated to the Blau-Gelbe Kreuz (Blue-Yellow Cross). All of them provided their services pro bono. Over €90,000 was raised for the relief effort in Ukraine. A great practical initiative that will enable over 90,000 first-aid backpacks to be put together, containing first aid that saves lives.

Art Dubai opens this week – we will not be there and since next Monday is Easter Monday and a public holiday in Germany, the next edition of Kobel's Art Week will not be published until 22 April. Let's hope that the world will have become a little more stable by then.

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