Pharmacist conquers gallery scene: Sperling now prescribes art

She created an institution. We're not talking about the renowned Marien-Apotheke in Hanover, which Dr. Gisela Sperling managed until her retirement in July 2018 and transformed into a modern business. No, a lot has happened since then. She has now made a name for herself in the art scene.

Just one and a half kilometers from the old pharmacy, she opened the "Kunstraum Friesenstrasse" in the summer of 2019. The winding, two-story space previously housed a chic furniture store. The central downtown location, the light-filled rooms, and the manageable size of approximately 140 square meters convinced Sperling that she had found the right place for her second passion: art. She is particularly fond of sculptures and drawings. She has added a whole series of treasures to her collection in recent years – and the collection continues to grow.

The focus is on works from 1950 onwards. These include, for example, the painted steel sculpture "Whimblow" by the American John Chamberlain from 2006, a work from the Nouveau Réalisme period. There are also three light boxes with a green striped pattern, a work by the French conceptual artist Daniel Burens from 1989. There is also a Minimal Art object called "Betoni" by the German sculptor Imi Knoebel from 1990.

Just as carefully as she selects her collection, she also searches for suitable artists – national and international – to whom she makes the exhibition space on the ground floor of her art space available for a few months. To select the right artists, she works with a committee, a personal team of experts with expertise in fine art and art history.

When the invited artists present their work, there's always a themed evening where they talk about the works themselves, thus facilitating access to art for those interested. Sometimes a musician joins in, providing a harmonious acoustic accompaniment. Demand is high, and she's pleased with the success. "Sometimes I get so many registrations that I have to offer two dates."

But the former pharmacist specializing in general and clinical pharmacy also demands a bit of a challenge. On the upper floor, the artists are always expected to relate their works to the Sperling Collection. "This dialogue is always very exciting for me," Sperling says.

No wonder, the minimalist works in her collection practically cry out for personal perspectives to be interpreted. Sperling says she discovers her exhibits anew each time. And the character of each work of art also changes with each new environment or scene. "When I connect the works with so many different impressions and stories, I can never part with them again," she admits.

She herself has learned a great deal in recent years. As a natural scientist, she's actually a career changer in the gallery and art scene. But she's become increasingly confident in her new territory. Twice a week, Sperling opens the doors to her space, and when events or interventions are scheduled, she's there even more often. She can no longer imagine life without her art space and admits: "Sometimes I even plan my vacation so I can be back during opening hours." Luckily for her visitors, it's hard not to be infected by her enthusiasm.