Zwischen Tür und Angel

"The 'white cube' is an exhibition space characterised by its minimalist design, particularly white walls and a neutral environment. It became popular at the height of the modern art movement in the 1960s and is now widely used in art institutions. Art critic Brian O'Doherty argues that the 'white cube' is not a neutral space, but a socially constructed place that influences specific cultural and ideological notions of art and shapes the perception of artworks. Despite this insight, which is now a consensus in exhibition architecture, practical exhibition design has not deviated significantly from the 'white cube'.
This exhibition deliberately departs from the 'white cube' aesthetic. The artworks are not presented as isolated objects, but as part of a vibrant and multifaceted whole. Art plays a subordinate role in the office, a regulated and defined space for specific tasks. The working day, as a unit of time, divides the calendar into periods of performance and rest. Alongside this temporal structure, however, a spatial constitution of the office has developed. The exhibition ‚Zwischen Tür und Angel' takes a closer look at the visible and invisible regularities and structures of this environment. Created in collaboration with the Kunstverein Siegen and students from the University of Siegen, the exhibition explores the dynamics of this particular place where people spend a significant part of their lives - a place where they not only work, but also have brief encounters with colleagues between doors and engage in dreamlike excursions into other spheres. The exhibition delves into the observations and dynamics of the office space, presenting an innovative display developed collaboratively by the artists. This display creates a new frame of reference by engaging the artworks in a dialogue with the spatial structures of the office, considering not only the physical elements but also the psychological and emotional facets that shape office life. Through a variety of media and perspectives, visitors are invited to experience the exhibition not just as a collection of works, but as an interactive dialogue with the spatial characteristics of the office. Venetian blinds and office furniture serve as both room dividers and presentation surfaces for other works. The basement of the Städtische Galerie Haus Seel serves as the presentation venue and is extended into the administrative part of the building with smaller installations.

 Participants: Luca Friedrich, Natalie Hundt, Simon Hönicke, Emilia Kernich, Joana Krahe, Simon Löhrer, Vanessa Mazzei, Sindhu Poli, Lucas Prött, Samuel Schöllchen, Leonard Vitt, Gianna Wagner, Joshua Wiesmann, Adem Yildirmaz