Rüdiger Freiherr von Fritsch

I was pleased to take patronage of the Marx Collection exhibition. Choice. Erich Marx is one of the most prominent personalities in the cultural landscape of Berlin. His prestigious collection is one of the most valuable collections of contemporary art, which - so far - has no equal among European museums. Private collection of dr. Erich Marx and his personal involvement led to the transformation of the former Hamburger Bahnhof railway station in Berlin into a museum and revitalization.

I am very happy that the Atlas Sztuki gallery managed to acquire a part of this valuable collection to present it as part of the exhibition organised in Łódź. Important works by artists of the middle and younger generation from Europe and North America will be shown there in a condensed form. Atlas Sztuki Gallery is, as one of the most renowned contemporary art galleries in Poland, a great place for an exhibition of such great artistic value.

The exhibition is another striking example of how a close and dense network of cultural relations was created between Poland and Germany, precisely on a private level. About five years ago, Erich Marx also became interested in contemporary art from Poland. Today, his collections include works by such outstanding artists as Wilhelm Sasnal, Zbigniew Rogalski, Rafał Bujnowski and Roman Lipski. The Polish Institute in Berlin presented an exhibition of his Polish collection last year. The collector's close, personal contacts with the Atlas Sztuki gallery made it possible to organise the current exhibition in Łódź. This fact allows us to hope for further significant exhibitions.

In the jubilee year of the 20th anniversary of good neighborliness between Germany and Poland, I wish the exhibition success and the interest it deserves.

Rüdiger Freiherr von Fritsch

Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Republic of Poland