Korbinian Kohler invited guests to the preview and vernissage on the occasion of the opening of the “Gallery KOKO @ BW featuring MAX 33 & Friends” in the “Spa & Resort Bachmair Weissach” on June 26 and 27, 2025.

 

A new art experience for contemporary art at Lake Tegernsee!

 

Hotelier Korbinian Kohler is now also a gallery owner – and celebrated the opening of his “Gallery KOKO” and the new gallery space in the “Spa & Resort Bachmair Weissach” with 19 artists and numerous VIP guests such as Carl-Theodor Graf zu Toerring-Jettenbach and his wife Natacha Ivanova, Charlotte Gräfin von Oeynhausen, Beate Merk and Maximilian Böltl and many more!

 

Hotelier – and now also a gallery owner! Korbinian Kohler , owner of the "Bachmair Weissach Group," is a true multi-entrepreneur. Art has long been one of his passions and has played a major role in his businesses from the very beginning. Now, Kohler has turned this love into a profession: In June, he opened his first gallery, the "Gallery KOKO," at his "Spa & Resort Bachmair Weissach" on Lake Tegernsee – a completely new art experience featuring contemporary art in the heart of the Bavarian Alps on the beautiful Tegernsee.

19 young and established artists are showing their works there. The exhibition was curated by Bettina Beckert (Head of Office Sotheby's Munich). The works were selected by art expert Peter Hansen, founder of the art initiative "Max33 & Friends" and chairman of the board of the "Association for the Promotion of Villa Stuck e. V." The new gallery was celebrated over two days: on Thursday with a preview under the patronage of Michael Buhrs (Director Museum Villa Stuck, Munich) with a small, select group of guests, including Beatrice von Thurn und Taxis , the exhibiting artists and Viktoria von Siemens . The grand opening followed on Friday with guests such as Charlotte Countess von Oeynhausen , politician Dr. Beate Merk , Viktoria Strehle , CSU politician Maximilian Böltl as well as 300 guests and a large number of artists.

"Changing exhibitions will take place three to four times a year in the 'Gallery KOKO' at the 'Spa & Resort Bachmair Weissach'. The first and current exhibition series will be on display until November 2025," explained host Korbinian Kohler , who welcomed the guests. The gallery is a "new art experience for contemporary art" that will radiate far beyond the borders of the Tegernsee Valley, he explained. With his new art concept, he wants to appeal not only to hotel guests and the people of the region, but also to art lovers far beyond the borders of the Tegernsee Valley: "We address art collectors, design and architecture enthusiasts, media professionals, and culture enthusiasts from all over Germany and around the world. The 'Bachmair Weissach' has always been a cosmopolitan place. Now we also want to make art tangible here and bring guests, artists, and collectors into a lively dialogue."

How did the idea for the gallery come about, and where does Kohler's love of art stem from? The father of four grew up on Lake Tegernsee, the son of the Kohler family, who ran the world-famous Gmund paper mill. "Thanks to the paper mill, I grew up with the medium of paper, which forms the basis of many forms of art. So, during my childhood, it was more printed art that preoccupied me. Later, when I lived in Paris for four years in my early 20s, I immersed myself in the Parisian art world for the first time. It happened by chance, as I was living in the apartment of an art collector. That's where I fell into the art scene. The interest was already there. I then started bartering with artists: Gmund paper for works of art. My wife Suse rekindled my passion for art, and we realized several art projects in the hotel that were very well received – including an exhibition series curated by Mon Müllerschön in 2019 with 'Upcoming Artists'. Having the space here gave rise to the idea of our own gallery."

He also explained the unique concept of the "Gallery KOKO": "Instead of the conventional and sterile 'white cube concept,' where art is presented on white walls, the 'Gallery KOKO' invites visitors to experience art in its natural context: sensual, surprising, and directly embedded in the Alpine architecture and nature." And so, the new art platform extends across several areas of the resort: from the lobby and the spa corridors to the four garden houses and the sculpture garden. "A place for art with soul, immersing one in a lively dialogue with creative diversity," Kohler summed it up. "For our hotel guests, this means a unique experience: They are vacationing in a design-savvy spa & resort and pass by over 150 works of art every day. This allows them to 'vacation with art,' so to speak—an immense experience that makes their stay even more unforgettable."

During a tour of the exhibition, guests were able to discover the works. Among the artists represented in the current exhibition are Andreas Zagler, Andrei Hancu, Charlie Koolhaas (daughter of Dutch star architect Rem Koolhaas ), Christian Offman, Fabian Pfleger, Florian Noethe, Florian Tenk, Jan Davidoff, Jozua Gerrard, Matilde Romagnoli, Moritz Moll, Natacha Ivanova, Otto Solms, Pascal Koertel, Ruben Benjamin, Sebastian Maas, Sebastian Quast, Vivienne Furtwängler, and Suse Kohler , a former student of Lüpertz.

"What's being created here is unique in the world," praised Peter Hansen . "There's no other hotel in the world that simultaneously exhibits 200 works by artists, all of whom are academy students or graduates." One of them is the Munich sculptor Matilde Romagnoli , who is creating the bronze monument honoring Franz Beckenbauer , which will soon be on display in the Allianz Arena. The artists spared no effort or expense: "For example, the South African artist Jozua Gerrard : He came to Munich specifically at the beginning of June to create his works."

"I think it's very brave to transform a hotel into an art space in this way. Something very special has been created here on Lake Tegernsee," praised patron Michael Buhrs , director of the Villa Stuck Museum in Munich, and offered visitors the following tip: "Keep your eyes open here!"

“Exciting art meets life, meets reality: the hotel’s guests,” praised Bettina Beckert (Head of Office Sotheby’s Munich), who curated the exhibition.

The guests were enthusiastic: “A concept that has never been seen before,” praised Carl-Theodor Graf zu Toerring-Jettenbach .

"A wonderful initiative that has been created here thanks to Korbinian Kohler and Peter Hansen, and one that we absolutely must support," says Viktoria von Siemens. The South African artist Jozua Gerrard stayed with her during the preparation period: "And he has now become part of the family."

"I think it's wonderful that there's more to offer here at Tegernsee than just the forest festivals," praised politician Dr. Beate Merk , who attended the event with her partner Christian Dennler . She was so impressed by the art that she immediately purchased a work by the artist Pascal Koertel : "I already have a place for it at home," she said.

"It's fantastic what Korbinian Kohler and Peter Hansen are doing for art here, in these rather difficult times," praised Countess Charlotte von Oeynhausen . "And the hotel is perfect for it."

"I'm delighted that we have a fantastic new art event here on the lake," praised Beatrice von Thurn und Taxis . "You can never get enough of it. And I expect a lot from Korbinian Kohler."

"It's great that we're bringing students out of the academy and offering them a platform, thus making them visible," says David Ziersch (a member of the Villa Stuck family). "Something like this has been missing until now, and it requires private commitment."

Art and culture have been anchored in Kohler 's philosophy from the very beginning. He always dreamed of promoting Lake Tegernsee as a top family-friendly destination in global tourism - and never forgot his Tegernsee roots and "the cozy hours by the tiled stove of his childhood," as he explained. For his "Spa & Resort Bachmair Weissach" he developed a unique concept based on four pillars that go far beyond the usual understanding of the hotel industry. It is not only aesthetics and multi-generational offerings that define the resort, but also a deep sense of philosophy and art as well as the opportunity to experience Lake Tegernsee holistically - through the numerous restaurants and branches around Lake Tegernsee and on the Wallberg. Korbinian Kohler , a passionate local patriot, always had a clear goal: to try to connect Lake Tegernsee, the number 1 luxury leisure region in Germany, even more internationally. Now, art, like culture, has always played a significant role at the "Spa & Resort Bachmair Weissach" – whether through previous exhibitions or his "Korbinian's Kolleg" discussion series on current issues. Now he's taking art to a new level: With the founding of the "Gallery KOKO," Kohler is expanding his portfolio to include a cultural dimension. As the owner of the gallery, he is realizing his vision of making art tangible and engaging guests, artists, and collectors in a lively dialogue.

This also delighted the other guests, including Michael Beck (Olaf Gulbransson Museum), Korbinian and Suse Kohler's children Ferdinand, Benedikt and Marlies Kohler , Daniela Giller ("Magari International"), Larsen Hilbertz (Perrier-Jouët Champagne), artist Ilse Mittermeier , entrepreneur Dominic von Proeck , art historian Wolfgang Zaeh , model and presenter Nina Meise , and many more.

Free images in the link: https://www.picdrop.com/traneric/iFAXfuCd1K

Photo credit: Eric Tran for Bachmair Weissach