Neu-Isenburg, 16/09/2015
AirPlus exhibits kinetic work of art by Troika of London // On loan from Neu-Isenburg-based art collector Robert Funcke
Large, white, round, in constant motion and captivating to visitors and staff members alike describes the piece of art which today has been installed in the foyer of the headquarters of AirPlus, global provider of payment and settlement solutions for business travel. Titled The Sum of all Possibilities, the kinetic globe constantly changing its composition was created by Troika, a group of London artists who made a name for themselves in the international arena in recent years and are represented at prestigious museums including the Victoria & Albert in London and MoMa in New York. The group, made up of Eva Rucki and Conny Freyer from Germany and French-born Sebastien Noel, was founded in 2003. Troika’s signature feature is its cross-discipline working style; the group’s recurring themes include the relationships among rules, chance and chaos.
AirPlus owes its acquisition of The Sum of all Possibilities to art consultant and collector Robert Funcke of Neu-Isenburg whose attention was drawn to the piece last year by a gallery director in Mexico. Initially Funcke wanted to buy the piece for the project room of his company KunstVoll at Frankfurter Straße. Because it is 1.5 meters in diameter, weighs close to 50 kilograms, including the motor, and has to meet specific requirements regarding size and ceiling statics, the room was unsuitable to house the piece. Funcke then came up with the idea of offering it to business travel specialist AirPlus. Patrick W. Diemer, Chair of the Board of Management of AirPlus, was fascinated by the idea at once: “In diverse ways, Troika’s piece of art combines the aspects that have characterized our business for many years – internationalization, mobility, change, and ever evolving perspectives. The Sum of all Possibilities reflects us as a company as well as the sum of each one of our staff members and our customers. It is more than a valuable addition to our headquarters – it is a statement.”
Robert Funcke of KunstVoll was pleased to have found in AirPlus a globally oriented partner located in Neu-Isenburg to exhibit The Sum of all Possibilities. He said: “In my work I focus mainly on young European and Latin American art. In this segment, I frequently meet artists who grapple within their oeuvres with their very topical views on global society. I feel lucky to help bring together two parties when the connection between the art and the company’s philosophy is so apparent.” For 2016, art expert Funcke has two new international projects on his agenda: organizing survey exhibitions of contemporary art from Cuba and from Mexico.
Robert Funcke has lent The Sum of all Possibilities to AirPlus for an unlimited time.
Contact:
Anne Dreesen
AirPlus International
Phone: +49 (0) 61 02. 2 04 - 72 61
Email: communications@airplus.com