The Schmidt-Drenhaus collection compromises works of modern art, primarily expressionism, German post-war art and New Expressionism from Berlin along with American conceptual art/photography and young art from Dresden. Today the collection features paintings, photographs, prints, drawings, collages and objects in equal measure. Ever more works are purchased from the artists involved in the collection and their artistic development is accompanied over a long period of time. In their own words, Doris and Klaus F.K. Schmidt ›collect in order to curate‹.
The exhibition in the Museum of Contemporary Art is entitled ›Listen to Your Eyes‹. This refers explicitly to the work of the same name by Maurizio Nannucci from 2001, which has been in the possession of the Schmidts since 2005. In Leipzig for each exhibition space of the GfZK’s new building one photographic work is selected and supplemented by associated works from the collection. Doris and Klaus F. K. Schmidt curate the exhibition in Leipzig themselves with the support of curator Johannes Schmidt.