art'otel dresden, by park plaza

Hotel Art Tour

Penck's reduction of the complexity of the modern world through the use of abstract forms also affected his depiction of people. He disembodied them, rendering them as signs reminiscent of the stick men in archaic cave paintings or of graffiti. They thus appeared to be more comprehensible to everyone, bringing Penck closer to his goal of a "real democratization of the arts."

Silk prints in bright colours on every floor of the building depict figures in numerous variations, each accompanied by a flat sculpture in which the figures appear to come dancing out of the metal. A total of six large format canvas works greet the guests in the corridors from the first to the sixth floor.

Worldview Future on the second floor is one of Penck's so-called "World Pictures," reflecting both the political protest over the situation between East and West as well as the utopian longing for a peaceful world. Political concepts also play a central role in other series of works. The work Standart is Hard from the "Standart" Series of the 1970s -- a combination of "standard" and "art" -- can be seen on the fourth floor.

On the next floor, you will find a work from the "Mike Hammer" Series, a reference to the hero of a detective series and another pseudonym that Penck assumed temporarily during his service as a reservist in the East German People's Army in 1973. In this series, he expressed his critique of present day socialism. In the same corridor, from the vantage of a sitting area in front of the wellness facility, guests have a breathtaking view of the historical buildings in the centre of Dresden and the best view of the colossal bronze statue on the roof of the building.

The masterful architecture by Professor Rolf and Jan Rave, who provided the concept for the art'forum complex, is complemented by the stimulating interior design by Dennis Santachiara, whose golden "Cocoon" next to the reception in the foyer will make your stay here an experience.

Following your tour through this impressive building and your visit to the current exhibition in the art gallery in the inner courtyard of the art'forum, the restaurant "Factory" invites you to relax in its ambient -- or you might decide to take a walk along the banks of the Elbe just two minutes away.