Substantial Changes

Dana-Fiona Armour, Julian Charrière, Liza Dieckwisch, Julia Gruner, Vera Kox, Elsa Salonen, Diana Scherer

December 4, 2026 until June 13, 2027

Curators: Ludwig Seyfarth, Julia Katharina Tiemann

In times shaped by substantial change, numerous aspects of life are in flux. In the light of increasing digitalisation in both professional and personal life, and of escalating ecological and sociopolitical crises, questions relating to the materiality of art are assuming particular significance for a younger generation of artists.

The artists in this exhibition thus reflect on the properties and environmental compatibility of the materials and processes involved in their artistic practice. In doing so, the focus shifts towards the boundaries that are currently drawn between the natural and the artificial, the organic and the inorganic. In their search for innovative methods and new, in some cases even biodegradable materials, these artists pursue alternative paths for producing art. Their artistic conception is frequently based on research and geared towards notions of process. The inherent properties of substances are specifically taken into account and incorporated in their work. Substances react with one another as well as with other elements, thereby leading to partial changes in colour or consistency. Moreover, they span different geological time scales that are inscribed into the materials. The processes may also comprise forms of interaction involving more-than-human actors. Through the perspective of an active participatory role in the creative process, the artists’ self-image is likewise subject to redefinition. Moving from the understanding of an individual creator to collaborations in various forms of shared co-authorship, a degree of openness comes to the fore that may encompass moments of what can no longer be entirely controlled.

The approaches taken by the artists in this group exhibition express a sense of respect towards the world surrounding us and a reverence to the resources of our planet. Substantial changes shape contemporary art just as they do many other realms of life; this is reflected in the shifting ways in which the artists engage with materials, their works unfolding poetically in space.

Public guided tours | 3 pm: 06.12.2026 | 20.12.2026 | 17.01.2027 | 31.01.2027 | 14.02.2027 | 28.02.2027 | 14.03.2027 | 04.04.2027 | 18.04.2027 | 02.05.2027 | 23.05.2027 | 06.06.2027