We live in a crisis of the political. With Beate Engl’s exhibition, the Kunstverein invites itself into a political space. In her work, Engl achieves remarkable precision—without intrusion and certainly not without humor—in calling attention once again to the often forgotten humanitarian foundations of our community. Her works confront visitors with a sense of obligation that demands a stance. It is not the grand themes that Engl comments on, but the relations between the individual and societal conditions. Her exhibition “out of office,” for example, sensitively underscores that “eight hours are not yet a day.” For a democratic—rather than merely economic—understanding of society, more is needed than the working person. We need dialogue among people about the topics Ramtur lists—and more. To quote poet Barbara Köhler: “It needs an I to say we.”

**Loosely paraphrasing Rainer Werner Fassbinder: “Eight hours are not a day.” (An eight‑hour day is not a full day. A family series, West German Radio, 1972/73)

With socialist greetings (From Ramtur’s Estate)

First Letter:
Dear colleague Director! Today I want to write to you. I am Ramtur from the machine shop, and I would like to make you a proposal: please send me my salary every month. I wish not to work for one year. Many greetings, colleague Ramtur

First Reply:
Dear colleague Ramtur! I received your letter. What will become of our factory if everyone thinks as you do? Come to work immediately. Colleague Director

Second Letter:
Dear colleague Director! I’d like to make another proposal. If I don’t work for a year, the factory will lose 2,376 hours. That is exactly 99 days. A year has 52 Saturdays and 52 Sundays. If in the following year I work 24 hours every Saturday and Sunday, I will also give you a gain of 120 hours, which I offer to the company. Sincerely, colleague Ramtur

Second Reply:
Dear colleague Ramtur! None of that is possible. I also sometimes don’t want to work and have to cry in bed in the morning. I don’t have much patience left with you. Colleague Director.

Third Letter:
Dear colleague Director! I need to talk with my wife about a) my wife, b) myself, c) our marriage, d) art and television, e) household, repairs, new purchases, f) our children (status and prospects), g) life, qualification, continuing education. Since I’ve come home at 5 PM until now and had no concentration, I need a year to examine these problems thoroughly. I ask for your understanding. Colleague Ramtur

Third Reply:
Colleague Ramtur! You haven’t come to work for eight weeks now. I have reported that. You will be hearing from us. You have forced me to do so.

Fourth Letter:
Mr. Director! I have now been working for 15 months in a locked weaving mill. I hereby inform you that further continuation of our correspondence is unnecessary. Mr. Ramtur 57382

Biography: Beate Engl
Born 1973 in Regen, lives and works in Munich

Education:
2001–2004 MFA Public Art and New Artistic Strategies, Bauhaus University Weimar and School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1994–2001 Fine Art / Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich under Prof. Olaf Metzel, master-class student, diploma

Grants / Awards (selection):
2014 Working Grant, Kunstfonds Foundation, Bonn
2012 Bavarian Art Promotion Prize
2009 Visual Arts Promotion Award, City of Munich
2008 USA Grant from the Bavarian State Ministry for Science, Research and the Arts

Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2015 Standarte, Erlöserkirche, Munich
2014 APPARAT, Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe
2010 every sound alarms, 1 Shantiroad, Bangalore
2008 The Blob. Nothing can stop it!, Kunstraum Munich
2007 A Perfect World, boots contemporary art space, St. Louis
2004 Rote Zelle, No. 3, Munich

Selected Group Exhibitions:
2016 the Gift, Magazin4, Bregenz (until August 21); Galerie der DG, Munich
2015 If you tell a story…, Maus Habitos, Porto
2014 Collaboration_7: Munich – Mostar – Belgrade | Playtime, Kunstbau Lenbachhaus, Munich
2013 Collaboration_6: All ready made in China, Fei Contemporary Art Center, Shanghai | Crossing Media, Villa Merkel, Esslingen | Netolerantnost/normalnost, Galerija Nova, Zagreb and Graz Art Association
2012 Top View 29.53 ft., with Nevin Aladag, Rindermarkt, Munich
2011 Gira la testa, Galleria Gentili, Prato, Italy | Luftkunst, Zeppelin Museum Friedrichshafen
2010 ready made today, Steinle Contemporary, Munich

Projects:
2015 Werkhof – St. Gallen, with Allemann Bauer Eigenmann Architects
2014/15 Zeppelin University, Friedrichshafen, color concept
2013 Löwenbräu Area in Zurich, with Gigon & Guyer
2012 Google Headquarters, Zurich, with züst gübeli gambetti, color concept
2011/15 Oskar Reinhart Collection, Winterthur — wall paint and fabric coverings for exhibitions
2011 First Cuts, Prime Tower, Zurich, in cooperation with Gigon & Guyer
2004 Wall painting for the new renovation of Kartause Ittingen, Switzerland
2005–2015 Seven color-room projects, University of Stuttgart campus