current exhibition

Imagine that a life story becomes a case history, and taking part in ‘normal’ everyday life is not an option – and so networking, that vital part of making artists and the works visible, is also ruled out – how, then, can art get noticed? Art needs to be seen, it needs spectators: and ideally, it has spectators who cast a non-judgmental, curious eye. Spectators who see the art and perhaps give some further thought to how, in fact, artworks are created or what general conditions art and artists require. Spectators who, potentially, also reflect on the question of what constitutes an artist.

In the exhibition, ‘Unerhörte Sequenzen’, vibrant, gestural painting, nailed pictorial objects, abstract and figurative drawings, fanciful and lyrical imaginings and contemplations on self and the world are presented alongside fantastical stories in pictures. A whole variety of techniques, materials and signature styles, then, with the sole common feature that all pieces were created in the Bad Dürkheim painting workshop. But how crucial is that information, anyway? Does it alter the way we beholders view and receive the art?

The opening on Friday, 6 September 2024 will feature the performance, ‘Fang erst gar nicht so an’ by the Ensemble Divers and guests. Our statement: ‘we need to keep in mind that seeing takes up x amount of time, reading needs so many minutes, and hearing such and such a length of time. That an adhesive strip on the wall can change everything. That it was a bag of fries that set us thinking.’

Concept / direction: Gabriele Oßwald, Wolfgang Sautermeister. With: Michael Black, Monika Dietrich, Thilo Eichhorn, Johannes Instinsky, David Julian Kirchner, Gabriele Oßwald, Michael Runkel, Paula Rönnebeck, Mathis Walter, Edith und Seraphin Weckesser, Helga Zeidler

The performance is enabled by funding from AKTION MENSCH and the Cultural Office of the City of Mannheim.