Notes from Underground

On February 29, 2024, the group exhibition "Notes from Underground" unveiled its eclectic collection of works, showcasing a diverse array of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, media art, film, and performance. Held in a vaulted cellar beneath the Mainz Kupferberg Terraces, "Notes from Underground" presented the works of 17 current and former students from the Mainz University of Fine Arts. The project placed particular emphasis on the utilization of the former ice cellar's space, providing artists with the opportunity to engage with its unique characteristics and architecture. Featured in the exhibition were works by Johanna Ehmke, Julian Ernst, Fabian Hiller, Julien Hübsch, Swan Lee, Laslo Chenchanna, Ivana Matić, Kevin Michalski, Philipp Neßler, Ramón Loesch, Alina Röbke, Leonard Schlöder, Julia Seifried, Jeong Hoon Shin, Danijel Sijakovic, Tariano Schneider, Helena Walter Centered around the architecture of the former ice cellar, the exhibited works actively interacted with the space, utilizing materials such as concrete and incorporating sounds like sawing and the operation of heavy machinery. The exhibition's title, drawn from Dostoevsky's novel "Notes from Underground," underscored the dual meaning of "underground" as both a physical space beneath the earth and a metaphorical representation of emerging artists whose recognition may still be burgeoning. Curatorially, great attention was paid to the ambiance of the rooms and the dynamic interplay between the artworks, with each piece offering a new perspective that enriched the viewing experience of the other works.