Art exhibition debuts at Lantz's Park in Düsseldorf
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Let's face it, sometimes we need a release: If only that grand villa in Lantz' Park in Lohausen were a gallery—just like it was in the 1970s when Alfred Schmela opened a branch there and made the garden a canvas for his sculptures that now silently decay. A quaint café would have also been a nice addition... But the city handed the house to a textile entrepreneur to serve as a corporate headquarters, and in the park, an official art commission plans an ambitious summer sculpture showcase every year. This year's theme is "On damp earths we wander." However, we find ourselves wandering almost blindly...
What's going on here? A landscape painting paves the way into this otherwise ordinary sculpture exhibition in Lantz' Park. Picture credit: biko
The bar is set high again this time. Young curator Lynhan Balatbat-Helbock, with a background in Colonial Cultures and Global Policy and with a focus on postcolonialism in the Berlin scene, has gathered ten international artists to leave their marks in the Düsseldorf garden. Yet, does colonialism truly affect plants and microbial life? Well, the "botanical formations" (complete with exotic plants) emerged, as the press text states, alongside plantation agriculture, which was primarily facilitated by the transatlantic slave trade and the long history of migration.
Games and art, anyone? A coconut swing may catch your attention, but is it for birds or art, or both? At least, there's a cover image in a nearby bush, an aquarelle-like landscape printed upon a transparent sheet. There's no mention of the title or artist. You might find some hints at the back at the chapel entrance though, where there's a box containing a booklet with a nice but not always immediately understandable plan and English texts. So, the two wooden boards with indents lying on the lawn aren't drinking troughs for sparrows but oversized Mancala games by British-Nigerian architectural designer Antoinette Yetunde Bintu Oni.
Feel free to give the game a try if you have the beans or game pieces handy. Another stop is a large "oh" sculpture made of stuffed artificial leather, considered a three-dimensional language sculpture by Tehran-born, now Berlin-based artist Farkhondeh Shahroudi. The undergrowth on the head of the old Perseus statue is courtesy of another Berlin-based artist, Anne Duk Hee Jordan, and is meant to change one's perspective of the ancient story. One can only see the sword of the naked hero and the severed head of Medusa.
A classic act of patriarchal violence? You'll find the answer sitting on a bench in front of the chapel and downloading a QR code from the booklet to listen to an audio piece on Soundcloud. The radio collective Refuge Worldwide creates a radio station atmosphere, maybe starting out cheerfully before transitioning into a critical zone as a ranger complains about migrant families celebrating without reason and demands action.
The sound art often competes with the loud roar of starting and landing planes, the everyday sound installation in troubled Lohausen. Yet, the park instills a sense of calm and nature, especially popular with dog owners who enjoy walking their pets under the trees. Some may even discover subtle works like the fish sculptures behind the chapel by Barthélemy Toguo or the delicate grids hung in twelve tree crowns by Ghanaian artist Al Hassan Issah. While these may recall the iron gates used for seclusion, they also hint at the exhibition concept and quickly fade into the foliage.
The objects hanging in the alley trees by Ghanaian artist Al Hassan Issah, indeed, evoke reminders of iron gates for seclusion. Picture credit: biko
What: The exhibition "On damp earths we wander" in Lantz'sche Park, Lohausener Dorfstraße 51, Düsseldorf, showcases selected works by international artists.
When: The exhibition is open to the public and free to attend with park hours—typically from sunrise to sunset. However, the Chapel, the heart of the exhibition, is open Thursdays through Sundays from 2 pm to 6 pm.
Where: Lantz'sche Park is approximately 14.5 hectares in size and located in Düsseldorf, Germany. Entrance is accessible via Lohausener Dorfstraße 51.
Other Events: The curator Lynhan Balatbat-Helbock will guide tours of the exhibition on select Saturdays at 11 am and will host a live drawing session by Bilge Emir on July 8th at 12 pm following the tour (registration through [email protected]). On August 11th, the tour is at 2 pm, followed by "Silent Disco & Circular Listening" at 4 pm, and the closing event with music and poetry is on September 15th from 2 pm to 7 pm.
Enrichment Data (Selective Use): The exhibition "On damp earths we wander" aims to explore themes of nature, environment, and humanity through sculptures. It features contemporary artwork encouraging unique perspectives and interaction, with artists hailing from various backgrounds. The exhibition may invite visitors to engage with the artwork through play or reflection, as exhibitions often promote accessibility and interactivity for intellectual and emotional engagement. It's worth noting that the park offers a serene atmosphere popular for walking, especially among dog owners. Local residents and international artists collaborate to create a one-of-a-kind experience, making the exhibition an exciting addition to Düsseldorf's art scene.
- The upcoming art exhibition, titled "On damp earths we wander," happening at Lantz'sche Park, will fuse sculptures with home-and-garden elements, as depicted by the landscape painting and the oversized Mancala games at the park.
- To fully appreciate the exhibition's embrace of lifestyle and global art culture, visitors can attend select tours led by curator Lynhan Balatbat-Helbock, or engage in interactive activities such as the live drawing session by Bilge Emir or the Silent Disco & Circular Listening event, all scheduled as part of the exhibition's events.
