Hans Georg Näder is one of the most colorful entrepreneurs in Germany. Ray-Ban glasses in the style of the 60s and a colorful scarf are part of the recognition mark of the “prosthesis king”. Just as extravagant as his appearance is his art exhibition: the Hans Georg Näder Kunsthalle in Duderstadt. Here, he displays his private possessions. For some, it may be ostentation and showing off, but for Näder himself, establishing a place for art in Duderstadt is a “matter of the heart.”
Art gallery above the roofs of the city
As someone who is close to home, the Hans Georg Näder Kunsthalle is naturally located in the Eichsfeld region of Lower Saxony, more precisely in his hometown Duderstadt on Karl-Wüstefeld-Weg. Located on the edge of the Sulberg mountain, the Kunsthalle offers a breathtaking view over the rooftops of Duderstadt and its old town.
Since 2011, more than 40,000 guests have viewed the private works of art of Ottobock’s CEO. The gallery is only open to visitors on weekends between 11 am and 8 pm. Admission to the Han Georg Näder Kunsthalle is free of charge. The latest exhibition, “My Private Passion,” was on display from Sept. 25, 2021, to Dec. 18, 2022.
The beginnings of the collector’s addiction
The beginnings of his collecting phase go back to the 1980s. Näder, then in his twenties and nearing the end of his business studies, purchased his first works in New York: Polaroid photographs by photographer Andy Warhol.
Warhol was one of the most relevant and important artists of his time. With his Polaroids he revolutionized Pop Art, which has endured to the present day. Among his most famous works are the “Shot Sage Blue Marilyn” or the “Campbell’s Soup Cans”. The portrait of Marilyn Monroe from 1964 is the most expensive work of the American artist with a value of almost 200 million dollars. Hans Georg Näder compares art to the addiction to chocolate bars. At that time, he did not know what dimensions his art collection would later have. Nor did he anticipate the enormous increase in value of the paintings.
Buy what you like
With this approach, the multi-billionaire buys his works. He does not follow the advice of a curator. He decides for himself what is exhibited and what is not. Näder lives between resistance to advice and stubbornness in all areas of life.
This is also evident in his dubious handling of uncomfortable interviews in which criticism is directed at him. Instead of addressing the issues calmly and confidently, he often acts childishly and defiantly: he simply broke off an interview with “Welt” in which he was asked about the renewed cancellation of the planned 2022 IPO.
The more than 2,000 works on display at Näder’s art gallery range from photographs of half-naked women to private glimpses of his former father’s office. He was able to acquire many of the works on numerous trips. By his own account, he spends more than 200 days a year looking at the world, traveling around and buying artworks at auction.
The portfolio of artists is enormous. The Kunsthalle includes works by Sigmar Polke, Andy Warhol and Martin Kippenberger, among others. However, there are three artists who have a very special significance in the Hans Georg Näder art gallery.
Näder’s favorites
There are three artists who have a higher status in the art collection than the rest.
First, there is Helmut Newton. According to his own information, Näder owns more than 140 works by the Australian-German photographer. Newton, a representative of nude photography, is known for his black-and-white shots, often featuring young, attractive ladies. He also photographed German models such as Claudia Schiffer and Heidi Klum. Näder’s first exhibition in December 2011 was dedicated to Helmut Newton and František Drtikol, who are both considered pioneers of their peculiar style. It is probably this provocation that continues to fascinate enthusiasts to this day.
Another favorite is Norbert Bisky, one of the most important painters and representatives of the figurative style of today. His works show silhouettes of people, painted in piercing colors. Works such as “Neozon” or “Havaire” achieved auction prices of about 100,000 euros. Näder and Bisky are even good friends. As a guest at a 60th birthday party, Nobert Bisky gave Näder a book containing several portraits of him. A fitting gift for a man who likes to see himself in the spotlight.
The third on the list, Neo Rausch, also comes from Leipzig, like Bisky. However, he again pursues a completely different style and can be assigned to the so-called “New Leipzig School”. With an auction value of 750,000 euros, “Der Anbräuner” takes first place on the list of the most expensive works by his favorite artists.
Art and corporate losses
It doesn’t take a genius to work out that opening a modern art hall of this size, running costs, personnel costs and, last but not least, of course, the artworks themselves take up a lot of money. There is no income from ticket sales to visitors: admission to the Hans Georg Näder Kunsthalle is free for all visitors.
Näder is known for not always taking the separation between private and entrepreneurial capital too seriously. The man from Duderstadt has been criticized several times for repeatedly taking money out of the company. Within the last ten years, the total amount added up to almost half a billion euros. These “additional salaries,” as Näder himself titles them, flow into the 61-year-old Ottobock CEO’s private projects.
Although the Ottobock Group’s corporate sales have been rising for several years, the dividends paid to himself were sometimes so high that even losses had to be written off. Equity has been shrinking for years. The associated equity ratio, which counts as a key figure for economic self-financing power, is also melting away. Whether Näder was not present at this business administration lecture remains questionable. And especially as chairman of the board, one should in any case act differently and manage a company for which 8,200 employees work.
Expensive hobbies
In addition to the Kunsthalle in Duderstadt, Näder is the owner of the Finnish shipyard Baltic Yachts, which specializes in sailing yachts and is headquartered in Jakobstad. His two luxury yachts, the “Pink Gin” and the “Pink Gin VI,” come from this shipyard. Both together have a value of over 100 million euros. Both yachts are named after and characterized by their huge pink sails, which rise over 55 meters into the air. Extravagance runs through all areas of Hans Georg Näder’s life.