User:Megamelange/sandbox

MÉLANGE was founded by art hisotrians Patrick Constantin Haas and Jonas Schenk in early 2015. Its first show opened in March 2015 in a suterrain space in Sülz, a residential area in Cologne. With a small grassy area and a moderatly sized shop window the shows revolved around the inviting situation for visitors. As a new art space in Colognes extensive scene MÉLANGE focuses to bring artistic visions and culutral visonaries to the Rhineland. Even though MÉLANGE has a physical space, it functions more as a collective trying to work colsely with its colaborators. Exhibitions organized by MÉLANGE often focus on solo or duo presentation of artists highlighting certains aspects of their work and complementing each other.

In its first itteration in the outskirts of Cologne MÉLANGE received the help of a culturaly involved family, which helped Haas and Schenk to find its location and cover the rent. This allowed them to foucs more on the production of new work and foster new relationships with other istitutions. This quite collaboration ended after a set periode of time, after which the space was moved to its second location. In late January 2017, after some needed renovation, MÉLANGE opened to public in a 20 sqm appartment located above a well known bar (King Georg). This location intorduced a 40 sqm "terrace" to MÉLANGE's programming, which allowed artist to realize installations outside and play with various exhibition displays. Here artist like Paul Czerlitzki experimentet with his paintings in a semi protected setting, allowing the weather to take its toll on the canvases, while the access was limited, which later that year was translated into an installation for a public project in Zurich (Neuer Norden Zürich curated by Christoph Doswald, June 9-September 2, 2018). For two and a half years people would have to ring a door bell, walk down a rather dark entrance way and climb one flight of stairs to be welcomed by a very unique experience. With a change of ownership of the building MÉLANGE was asked to move. Elif Saydam's "Selfing" was the last show in the appartment and forshadowing the pandemic dystopian reality that would hit Cologne within two weeks.

As of June 2020 MÉLANGE is situated approx. 250 m from its former location at Ebertplatz No 23. With a slight increase in size, the basement space with its green linoleum floor is unique in its shape. The two triangular space compliment each other and are flooded with daylight by street facing windows. This siutation invites artist to create shows that might catch the observant passerbys attention while glancing through one of those windows.