The ZKM mourns the death of Peter Weibel

It is with great sadness that the ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe announces that the artistic-scientific Chairman of the ZKM, Peter Weibel, passed away in Karlsruhe on 1 March 2023 at the age of 78 after a short serious illness.

As an artist, theorist and curator, Peter Weibel, born in Odessa in 1944, left his mark on the art world with his visionary power, extensive knowledge and courage. For over 24 years, he developed the ZKM into an internationally renowned art institution with a unique profile worldwide. Until the end, he worked intensively on the upcoming exhibitions, events and publications of the ZKM.

Petra Olschowski, Minister of Science, Research and the Arts of the State of Baden-Württemberg: "With his exhibitions at the ZKM, Peter Weibel has repeatedly shown us how our perception of the world is changing through digital and media transformation. His advanced approaches were always challenging, because in his brilliant concepts Peter Weibel was often ahead of today. The ZKM's worldwide reputation and its constant development and opening up to topics and social issues are due to this attitude and his uncompromising commitment. In this sense, he was an important advisor to many committees in the country and also to me personally. His sudden death leaves us shaken."

Dr. Frank Mentrup, Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe: "With Professor Peter Weibel, Karlsruhe loses a pioneer and an outstanding personality. Karlsruhe remains associated with his name worldwide as the site of the ZKM and as a UNESCO City of Media Art. His death is a heavy loss."

Funeral and commemoration

The funeral service and burial will be held at 2 pm Tuesday, March 21, at Friedhofskirche St. Karl Borromäus (Luegerkirche) at Vienna Central Cemetery.

On March 24 at 7 pm, the Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe, Dr. Frank Mentrup, and the Minister for Science, Research and the Arts, Petra Olschowski, will speak in memory of Peter Weibel at the opening of the exhibition »Renaissance 3.0«.