The parliament

A room-filling installation changeable by public

Pöge-Haus Leipzig

· material and tools ·

election campaign posters, color, chair, chains, wax-chalk pens, light


· description ·

The installation consisted of three parts.

Election posters covered the entire floor as a symbolic change in the hierarchy of power. The posters were collected during the last three local elections in 2019 (EU parliamentary and local elections, state parliamentary elections in Saxony, mayoral elections in Leipzig). Only posters that were completely dismantled from their original hanging were included in the collection. The curator Adam Szymczyk described the collection in an interview with monopol magazine as follows: "600 Wahlplakate (..) Zeugnisse des Kampfes, in dem die Helden uns ihre Wahrheiten verkaufen und dann am Boden liegen, gezeichnet von Graffiti und Stickern im Gesicht, als hätten sie Wunden, die vom Kampf zeugen."
Slogans painted on the walls and interior windows expanded the installation. This second part was to enter into a verbal exchange with the posters as well as the audience. The content of the slogans was partly chosen provocatively in order to encourage the audience to comment or correct them.
Since the public was not allowed to enter the exhibition rooms due to the pandemic, wax-chalk pens were placed around the exterior windows. This third part of the installation allowed the public to comment on, correct and expand the slogans on the window panes from the outside.

The runtime of the installation lasted 14 days. Every second day, the comments on the exterior windows were moderated and the pens were refreshed.
The public was allowed to enter the installation on the last Saturday night of its run. It was part of a anounced accompanying program. An artist talk was also part of the event. This gave the public the opportunity to to learn and exchange more detailed about possibilities of democratic coexistence.


Accompanying text to the exhibition:

»Das Parlament«

600 Wahlkampfplakate
und ein paar Gedanken zum Leben in einer parlamentarischen Demokratie
- mehr ist es nicht.

Zur Wahlkampfzeit reißen Menschen die Wahlplakate ab und zerstören diese zum Teil.


Politische Versprechen vor der Wahl, werden nachträglich - als wäre es selbstverständlich - nicht mehr eingehalten.

Rosa Luxemburg wurde vor gut 100 Jahren ermordet, weil Sie anstatt von Parlamenten die Räte als Verwaltungsstruktur einer demokratischen Gesellschaft sah und sich dafür einsetzte.

Nun gibt es neuer Ansätze vom demokratischen Miteinander.
So entstehen gerade die ersten digitalen Blockchain-Demokratien. Über Ländergrenzen hinweg, lassen diese Bewegungen jeden nationalen Gedanken obsolet werden.
Das zu Grunde liegende Model dazu heißt Basis-Demokratie - alle entscheiden mit.
Jede Entscheidung, jede Abstimmung wird in der "Blockchain" gespeichert - 100% Transparenz, Korruption ist ausgeschloßen.
Ist dies das gesuchte Werkzeug für ein harmonisches Miteinander? Wie schützt sich der Mensch davor, mit hilfe dieser Technologie den/die nächste/n Super-Diktator/inn zu generieren?

Auf der anderen Seite kritisieren – auf politischer Ebene – auch AfD und Co. das aktuelle demokratische System, jedoch mit fatalstenen Vorstellungen einer Besserung.

Daher soll mit dieser Installation angeregt werden, über eine Weiterentwicklung der Demokratie und der Freiheit des einzelnen Menschen nachzudenken - gerne auch mit Umwegen in die Vergangenheit, zu der Geburtsstunde der Demokratie, sowie Visionen in die nahe Zukunft, bezogen auf die Möglichkeit und Gefahren der Technologien - um somit den verstaubten, aber dennoch gefährlichen konservativen Kräften und Ideologien des Planeten zu trotzen und den Wind aus deren Segeln zu nehmen.

Du bist herzlich eingeladen, offline/vor_Ort in den Fenstern der Ausstellung oder online hier in den Kommentarspalten deine Gedanken und Weiterentwicklungsszenarien zur Demokratie niederzuschreiben und mit allen anderen darüber zu diskutieren was ein angemessener Weg in die Zukunft sein soll.

Corona Leugner

· technique ·

oil painting on conavas, 60,5 x 60 (cm)


· material and tools ·

canvas, oil, pigment, brush


· description ·

Belongs to the series Coronal Leugner I - IV

The texts contain assertions of an absurd truth and are, in terms of structure, a mixture of novel narrative and poem. Popular conspiracy myths, which are adopted in the various camps of Corona deniers, were used subversively and mainly form the content basis of the texts.


A short essay (in german language):
felix_almes__die_coronaleugner_innen_waren_nicht_real.pdf

Corona Leugner IV

· technique ·

oil painting on non-streched canvas, 60,5 x 60 (cm)


· material and tools ·

canvas, oil, pigment, brush


· description ·

Belongs to the series Coronal Leugner I - IV

The texts contain assertions of an absurd truth and are, in terms of structure, a mixture of novel narrative and poem. Popular conspiracy myths, which are adopted in the various camps of Corona deniers, were used subversively and mainly form the content basis of the texts.


A short essay (in german language):
felix_almes__die_coronaleugner_innen_waren_nicht_real.pdf

so richtig krass hart

· technique ·

oil painting on unstreched canvas, 200 x 146 (cm)


· material and tools ·

canvas, oil, pigment, brush


· description ·

Christentumismus

· technique ·

oil painting on unstreched canvas, 211,5 x 146 (cm)


· material and tools ·

canvas, oil, pigment, brush


· description ·

Wir trauern

· technique ·

oil painting on canvas, collaged, 40 x 60 (cm)


· material and tools ·

canvas, oil, pigment, brush, newspaper


· description ·

Jetzt in Deutschland

· technique ·

oil painting on canvas, collaged, 40 x 60 (cm)


· material and tools ·

canvas, oil, pigment, brush, newspaper


· description ·

Zu politisch, zu sexuell, zu figurativ.

· technique ·

oil painting on canvas, collaged, 60 x 50 (cm)


· material and tools ·

canvas, oil, pigment, brush, newspaper


· description ·

The white death

· technique ·

oil painting on canvas, 60.5 x 60 (cm)


· material and tools ·

canvas, oil, pigment, brush


· description ·

Kein Bock auf euer Wertesystem

· technique ·

oil painting on canvas, 70 x 52,5 (cm)


· material and tools ·

canvas, oil, pigment, brush


· description ·

Corona Leugner II

· technique ·

oil painting on wood, 102 x 43.5 (cm)


· material and tools ·

oil, pigment, brush


· description ·

Belongs to the series Coronal Leugner I - IV

The texts contain assertions of an absurd truth and are, in terms of structure, a mixture of novel narrative and poem. Popular conspiracy myths, which are adopted in the various camps of Corona deniers, were used subversively and mainly form the content basis of the texts.


A short essay (in german language):
felix_almes__die_coronaleugner_innen_waren_nicht_real.pdf

Corona Leugner III

· technique ·

oil painting on wood, 126 x 62.5 (cm)


· material and tools ·

oil, pigment, brush


· description ·

Belongs to the series Coronal Leugner I - IV

The texts contain assertions of an absurd truth and are, in terms of structure, a mixture of novel narrative and poem. Popular conspiracy myths, which are adopted in the various camps of Corona deniers, were used subversively and mainly form the content basis of the texts.


A short essay (in german language):
felix_almes__die_coronaleugner_innen_waren_nicht_real.pdf

»Fenster zur Welt – I«

· technique ·

oil painting on object, 70 x 52,5 (cm)


· material and tools ·

wood, canvas, nails, oil, pigment, brush


· description ·

»Fenster zur Welt – II "Es sticht im Kopf"«

· technique ·

oil painting on object, 70 x 52,5 (cm)


· material and tools ·

wood, canvas, nails, oil, pigment, brush


· description ·

»Fenster zur Welt – III: "making money"

· technique ·

oil painting on object, 70 x 52,5 (cm)


· material and tools ·

wood, canvas, nails, oil, pigment, brush


· description ·

»Fenster zur Welt – IV«

· technique ·

oil painting on object, 70 x 52,5 (cm)


· material and tools ·

wood, canvas, nails, oil, pigment, brush


· description ·

shiny cracks – I

· technique ·

painted glass
66 x 47 (cm)


· materials ·

glass, acrylic


· description ·

Early on one day in 2020 i found a broken window in public space. Somebody or something had smashed the large glass window with a stone or some other heavy object. Around this 15 centimeter punsh hole, two different kind of cracks appeared. There were cirular cracks around the hole and beam cracks that started from the hole as center and extended in all directions.

The sun hitted the window as i passed by. I was strongly fascinated by all the shiny cracks. This image had burned itself deeply into my memory. After that, i vistied the broken window again and again. I observed it in all different settings of daylight.

I was captivated by the impression. Later in 2020 i tried to recreate this impression. These object is one of the results.

shiny cracks – II

· technique ·

painted glass on wood
105 x 57 (cm)


· materials ·

glass, acrylic, medium-density fiberboard (MDF)


· description ·

Early on one day in 2020 i found a broken window in public space. Somebody or something had smashed the large glass window with a stone or some other heavy object. Around this 15 centimeter punsh hole, two different kind of cracks appeared. There were cirular cracks around the hole and beam cracks that started from the hole as center and extended in all directions.

The sun hitted the window as i passed by. I was strongly fascinated by all the shiny cracks. This image had burned itself deeply into my memory. After that, i vistied the broken window again and again. I observed it in all different settings of daylight.

I was captivated by the impression. Later in 2020 i tried to recreate this impression. These object is one of the results.

shiny cracks – I

· technique ·

painted glass on wood
104 x 83 (cm)


· materials ·

glass, acrylic, medium-density fiberboard (MDF)


· description ·

Early on one day in 2020 i found a broken window in public space. Somebody or something had smashed the large glass window with a stone or some other heavy object. Around this 15 centimeter punsh hole, two different kind of cracks appeared. There were cirular cracks around the hole and beam cracks that started from the hole as center and extended in all directions.

The sun hitted the window as i passed by. I was strongly fascinated by all the shiny cracks. This image had burned itself deeply into my memory. After that, i vistied the broken window again and again. I observed it in all different settings of daylight.

I was captivated by the impression. Later in 2020 i tried to recreate this impression. These object is one of the results.

shiny cracks – IV

· technique ·

painted glass on wood
104 x 83 (cm)


· materials ·

glass, acrylic, medium-density fiberboard (MDF)


· description ·

Early on one day in 2020 i found a broken window in public space. Somebody or something had smashed the large glass window with a stone or some other heavy object. Around this 15 centimeter punsh hole, two different kind of cracks appeared. There were cirular cracks around the hole and beam cracks that started from the hole as center and extended in all directions.

The sun hitted the window as i passed by. I was strongly fascinated by all the shiny cracks. This image had burned itself deeply into my memory. After that, i vistied the broken window again and again. I observed it in all different settings of daylight.

I was captivated by the impression. Later in 2020 i tried to recreate this impression. These object is one of the results.

shiny cracks – V

· technique ·

painted glass on cardboard
38 x 33 (cm)


· materials ·

glass, acrylic, cardboard


· description ·

Early on one day in 2020 i found a broken window in public space. Somebody or something had smashed the large glass window with a stone or some other heavy object. Around this 15 centimeter punsh hole, two different kind of cracks appeared. There were cirular cracks around the hole and beam cracks that started from the hole as center and extended in all directions.

The sun hitted the window as i passed by. I was strongly fascinated by all the shiny cracks. This image had burned itself deeply into my memory. After that, i vistied the broken window again and again. I observed it in all different settings of daylight.

I was captivated by the impression. Later in 2020 i tried to recreate this impression. These object is one of the results.

shiny cracks – VI

· technique ·

painted glass
40 x 28 (cm)


· materials ·

glass, acrylic


· description ·

Early on one day in 2020 i found a broken window in public space. Somebody or something had smashed the large glass window with a stone or some other heavy object. Around this 15 centimeter punsh hole, two different kind of cracks appeared. There were cirular cracks around the hole and beam cracks that started from the hole as center and extended in all directions.

The sun hitted the window as i passed by. I was strongly fascinated by all the shiny cracks. This image had burned itself deeply into my memory. After that, i vistied the broken window again and again. I observed it in all different settings of daylight.

I was captivated by the impression. Later in 2020 i tried to recreate this impression. These object is one of the results.

shiny cracks – VII

· technique ·

painted glass on cardboard
35 x 28.5 (cm)


· materials ·

glass, acrylic, cardboard


· description ·

Early on one day in 2020 i found a broken window in public space. Somebody or something had smashed the large glass window with a stone or some other heavy object. Around this 15 centimeter punsh hole, two different kind of cracks appeared. There were cirular cracks around the hole and beam cracks that started from the hole as center and extended in all directions.

The sun hitted the window as i passed by. I was strongly fascinated by all the shiny cracks. This image had burned itself deeply into my memory. After that, i vistied the broken window again and again. I observed it in all different settings of daylight.

I was captivated by the impression. Later in 2020 i tried to recreate this impression. These object is one of the results.

shiny cracks – VIII

· technique ·

painted glass on cardboard
45 x 23.5 (cm)


· materials ·

glass, acrylic, cardboard


· description ·

Early on one day in 2020 i found a broken window in public space. Somebody or something had smashed the large glass window with a stone or some other heavy object. Around this 15 centimeter punsh hole, two different kind of cracks appeared. There were cirular cracks around the hole and beam cracks that started from the hole as center and extended in all directions.

The sun hitted the window as i passed by. I was strongly fascinated by all the shiny cracks. This image had burned itself deeply into my memory. After that, i vistied the broken window again and again. I observed it in all different settings of daylight.

I was captivated by the impression. Later in 2020 i tried to recreate this impression. These object is one of the results.

shiny cracks – IX

· technique ·

painted glass on wood
50 x 23 (cm)


· materials ·

glass, acrylic, medium-density fiberboard (MDF)


· description ·

Early on one day in 2020 i found a broken window in public space. Somebody or something had smashed the large glass window with a stone or some other heavy object. Around this 15 centimeter punsh hole, two different kind of cracks appeared. There were cirular cracks around the hole and beam cracks that started from the hole as center and extended in all directions.

The sun hitted the window as i passed by. I was strongly fascinated by all the shiny cracks. This image had burned itself deeply into my memory. After that, i vistied the broken window again and again. I observed it in all different settings of daylight.

I was captivated by the impression. Later in 2020 i tried to recreate this impression. These object is one of the results.

shiny cracks – X

· technique ·

painted glass on wood
66 x 66 (cm)


· materials ·

glass, acrylic, medium-density fiberboard (MDF)


· description ·

Early on one day in 2020 i found a broken window in public space. Somebody or something had smashed the large glass window with a stone or some other heavy object. Around this 15 centimeter punsh hole, two different kind of cracks appeared. There were cirular cracks around the hole and beam cracks that started from the hole as center and extended in all directions.

The sun hitted the window as i passed by. I was strongly fascinated by all the shiny cracks. This image had burned itself deeply into my memory. After that, i vistied the broken window again and again. I observed it in all different settings of daylight.

I was captivated by the impression. Later in 2020 i tried to recreate this impression. These object is one of the results.

untitled sculpture

· technique ·

sculpture, 28 x 15 x 8.5 (cm)


· material and tools ·

wood


· description ·

Output of the exhibition Performing an Artspace at Kunstraum Lakeside.

The piece of wood was searched and found on site of Lakeside Park.
The sculping process was continued also after exhibition/performance.

Ich liebe mein Leben

· technique ·

sculpture, 135 x 150 x 45 (cm) / without chain


· material and tools ·

metal chain, plastic waste, hot air pistol


· description ·

This work was inspired by stickers in public spaces. The slogan on the sticker was "Ich liebe mein Leben" and was extended by a symbolic heart shape.
The sticker was seen in various cities in Germany over a long period of time. I have often asked myself how I can love my life. Or what is the part of my life that I should love.
I am what i eat. Extended – I am what i consump. So i decided myself to love my consumption waste.

This sculpture is made of my personal consumption-related packaging waste of one full year.

Kunstraum Lakeside

· technique ·

engraving 60 x 60 (cm), letterpress prints on papers of different size


· material and tools ·

engraved original floor slab of the modular lakeside art room floor, paper, color


· description ·

A cooporational work of Felix Almes, Tobias Fabek, Leon Galli, Yannick Harter, Lisa Kirchhoff, ShuangShuang Liao, Lydia Marx, SeungLok Paik, Franziska Pätzold, Stefan Riebel, Frida Zack

After our performative exhibition at Kunstraum Lakeside we borrowed one of the floor slabs of the modular art space and tooked it with us to Leipzig. There we engraved the key dates of the happend exhibition and printed them in letterpress. These prints were supposed to become part of a planned but not realized book project.
The prints shown here are the result of experiments with the printing technique and were created aside from the project prints.