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Living Environments
Living Environments
March 13, 2026
Alexander Lackmann: Ulvi, from the series Ganz ehrlich, 2022
© Alexander Lackmann/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn
Featuring works by fourteen visual artists, the exhibition shines a light on a broad range of locations in North Rhine-Westphalia. A strong focus is placed not only on urban environments and industrial structures, but also on the multi-faceted origins and social circumstances of those living in Germany’s most populous federal state. At the same time, the showcase examines contemporary ways of dealing with the legacies of the past, paired with forward-looking perspectives.
The represented artists span several generations. All are based in NRW, though some of them have international backgrounds or countries of origin. The showcased works – some in colour, some black and white – were created between the 1990s and 2024. While the exhibition focuses on regional elements, many of them can also be applied to a wider context. What becomes clear is that identity – be it that of a region or a person – is formed by a multitude of different factors; as such, it is always individual, variable, and a product of its time. At the very core of the featured themes are people and their needs, whose manifestations have been captured in a variety of ways.
Katrin UllmannThe represented artists span several generations. All are based in NRW, though some of them have international backgrounds or countries of origin. The showcased works – some in colour, some black and white – were created between the 1990s and 2024. While the exhibition focuses on regional elements, many of them can also be applied to a wider context. What becomes clear is that identity – be it that of a region or a person – is formed by a multitude of different factors; as such, it is always individual, variable, and a product of its time. At the very core of the featured themes are people and their needs, whose manifestations have been captured in a variety of ways.
Alexander Lackmann: Ulvi, from the series Ganz ehrlich, 2022
© Alexander Lackmann/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn
Boris Becker: Ice Rink Arena, 2008
© Boris Becker / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn
Kathrin Esser: Wald 05, 2022, from the series Weiße Wehe, since 2022
© Kathrin Esser
Jeffrey Ladd: Construction Site and Tree, Dellbrück, 2016
© Jeffrey Ladd
Gerhard Winkler: Cologne Cathedral, 2015
© Gerhard Winkler