P.A.P. (Progressive Art Production), 1969–1972

In 1969, Karlheinz Hein launches P.A.P. (Progressive Art Production), a commercial initiative based in Munich and dedicated to experimental cinema. A genre that is thriving, but is not yet integrated in the art market. P.A.P intends to seize this opportunity and takes part in art fairs and promote a catalogue, for instance at Art Basel in 1970, 1971 and 1972. Hein, joined later by Dieter Meier, won’t meet success. Their program was based on a demanding selection, and the movies come from the underground culture. The art market didn’t show enough interest in P.A.P.‘ s catalogue.

Nowadays, as experimental cinema has found a place in the art world and when any gallery roster promotes an experimental filmmaker, Friart, with the help of François Bovier, wish to commit with a tribute to this “Filmgalerie”. Unpublished archival documents are shown with a selection of films by the filmmakers such as Kurt Kren, Takahiko Iimura, HHK Schoenherr or Paul Sharits, among others.

An exhibition in artgenève.