How did the idea for the gallery come about, and where does your love of art come from?

KORBINIAN KOHLER:
I grew up with the medium of paper through my family’s paper mill in Gmund – a material that forms the basis for many kinds of art. In my childhood, it was therefore more printed art that occupied me. Later, when I lived in Paris for four years in my early twenties, I immersed myself in the Parisian art world for the first time. It happened more or less by chance, as I was living in the apartment of an art collector. That is how I more or less slipped into this art scene.

We were very fortunate to be able to cooperate with Peter Hansen, the founder of the art initiative MAX33 & Friends. The question may now arise as to why I am doing all this. Of course, there are also commercial reasons. But, similar to Korbinians Kolleg, I would like to make the world a little more beautiful – and above all, Tegernsee. My aim is to connect it even more strongly with the international art scene. At the premiere, we already have several international artists taking part. And in future, there may gladly be even more.

You are a very aesthetic person, with an affinity for forms and colours, and you have travelled a great deal. How did you find the artworks in the hotels you have visited so far?

Unfortunately, I find there are only very few hotels worldwide that can be taken seriously in terms of the art market. One example is The Dolder in Zurich. One has to distinguish clearly between decoration, or decorative art, and design. Art always borders on philosophy. For us, the point of connection is very strongly linked to Korbinians Kolleg: it is about the statement made by the images, not only about their beauty.

Art plays a major role in social development. Art should break open entrenched structures, take up new social developments or even help shape them. And we would like to contribute to that. Gallery KOKO is intended to be a gallery to be taken seriously – with a museum-like character.

How did the name of the gallery come about?

It is derived from my name – the first two letters of each part.

Is the exhibition also accessible to external guests?

Upon prior registration, external guests are also warmly welcome to visit us and view the works.

What hangs on the walls in your home?

Art also holds a very high value in my own home. You walk past it every day – which is why I find it important that it is art that touches the heart.

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Hotelier Korbinian Kohler is now also a gallerist – and in this interview, he speaks about his Gallery KOKO and his love of art.