Press release 28.03.2022

Städtische Galerie Wolfsburg shows paintings of the artist Jan-Ole Schiemann

The artist Jan-Ole Schiemann is currently decorating the art station at Wolfsburg Central Station with his paintings. The Städtische Galerie Wolfsburg will present the wall installation on Thursday, March 31, at 5 p.m. in the presence of the artist. It will be on display at Wolfsburg Central Station until August 28.

In Jan-Ole Schiemann's work, the boundaries between abstract and figurative painting blur in an interesting way. Rigorous painterly gestures bring together elements from cartoons with pictorial means from comics and drip painting. Structures, logos, topographies, graffiti, and everyday textures are layered into a complex fabric that both emphasizes the surface and draws in depth. Although his pictorial compositions are prepared and planned, the artist always retains a moment of spontaneity in their realization, using rhythmic and melodic elements to finalize the composition.

For the installation in the art station Jan-Ole Schiemann has dealt with the situation in a train station. Here one waits for the upcoming train ride or expects arriving persons. Sometimes, however, a disturbance or an incident can also be the reason for waiting. The situation is perceived - depending on the respective accompanying circumstances - as positive or negative. This feeling is picked up by the change of forms, which mirrors the positive image on one wall in the negative on the opposite wall. Schiemann's installation eludes quick observation and invites the viewer to keep discovering further pictorial elements. His suggestion for those waiting is to see the positive in the negative.

Jan-Ole Schiemann was born in Kiel in 1983, he was a master student of Andreas Schulze at the Academy in Düsseldorf and lives in Cologne.

The Art Station at Wolfsburg Central Station is an initiative of the Städtische Galerie Wolfsburg and Deutsche Bahn, with the support of NEULAND Wohnungsbaugesellschaft mbH.

Press release 18.05.2021

The International Summer Stage 2021 will be doubly good in Corona times and flexibly implements the possibilities now offered by the new state ordinance with a two-part event. The ordinance, in force since May 10, 2021, now allows cultural events from an incidence below 100 with a negative test in the open air.

Therefore, if a value below this number is reached, the festival will start as usual at the end of June. International artists* will offer open-air concerts on a small stage with a wonderful castle ambience during one weekend in the Baroque Garden. Another production, which will show off the beautiful castle park to its best advantage, will then be implemented by M2K's tried and tested festival team in late summer.

International artists at Wolfsburg Castle, performances that take visitors on a musical journey and bring the cultures of this world to life in Wolfsburg: After the international summer stage had to be cancelled last year, the festival's makers are now focusing on a concert weekend very close to the concept of the popular summer event. "The concerts will ensure that the people of Wolfsburg and guests from the region can once again experience the festival atmosphere at the castle. We have all been eagerly awaiting this," says a delighted Dennis Weilmann, First City Councilor for Economic Affairs, Digital Affairs and Culture.

Of course, the organizers from the Kulturwerk in M2K are organizing everything so that the event can be held in accordance with the corona (registration, limited number of participants, seating, etc.). The entrance is free.

In addition to music, other cultural genres and the special cultural experience always belong unmistakably to the popular Wolfsburg Summer Open Air Festival. This year's program also includes an extraordinary spectacular.

The originally planned park production, in which artistic performances take place at various stations, in which the visitors* are actively involved in the action, especially in the family programs in the afternoon, is unfortunately currently not permitted under the new state ordinance. So that the production, which shows off the beautiful castle park to particularly good effect, can be implemented in its planned form, the performance will now be offered in late summer.

"We are reacting flexibly to the circumstances and will exceptionally start the second part of the castle festival this year in late summer. Then, hopefully, in carefree time and without too many restrictions," comments Institute Director Monika Kiekenap-Wilhelm on the decision.

Exact dates and details will be published close to the event in the first half of June, or at the end of August.

Press release 30.03.2021

City again announces ideas competition for young artists

For the fifth time, the Institute for Contemporary History and City Presentation (IZS) of the City of Wolfsburg is organizing the competition "Art in Wolfsburg's Cityscape - KiS, Ideas Competition for Young Artists". The biennial competition took place for the first time in 2013.

Compared to the previous calls, the 2021 ideas competition will be expanded into the digital realm. The competition is aimed not only at students and young graduates of fine art and other art degree programs with a focus on "Art in Public Space", but also at those at German universities with a focus on "Digital Art".

The competition participants are expected to deal with the development of the city of Wolfsburg, the history of art in Wolfsburg's cityscape and the current situation in Wolfsburg and to develop forward-looking ideas for projects on art in Wolfsburg's cityscape. Participants are free to choose where they want to develop their projects: the digital urban space or open areas in the city. However, they must always be public spaces.

The competition offers the opportunity to test and explore the function of art in public - including digital - urban spaces. Participants should examine the role that art plays within the structural, digital, social and therefore cultural shaping of a city; how it influences and changes people, their analog and digital environment and their perception of themselves and the urban space around them.

As in previous calls, the best entry will be chosen by the jury as the winner and will receive prize money of 1,500 euros. Up to three further works can receive special recognition, each of which is associated with a graduated financial reward of 500 euros.

With this ideas competition, the Culture Division is implementing a project from the City of Wolfsburg's cultural development plan with the aim of promoting young artists and adding a further nuance to Wolfsburg as a center for contemporary art.

The tender documents can be requested directly from
Stadt Wolfsburg, Institut für Zeitgeschichte und Stadtpräsentation (IZS), Ideenwettbewerb zur Kunst im Stadtbild Wolfsburgs - KiS, Postfach 10 09 44, 38409 Wolfsburg. Or at izs-stadtarchiv@stadt.wolfsburg.de. Closing date for entries is September 3, 2021.

The award ceremony is planned for November 5, 2021 as part of the exhibition opening. This is planned to take place both in the rooms of the Institute for Contemporary History and City Presentation and in a digital space yet to be determined.

All information on the 2021 ideas competition