Artists: Lena Bils, Johanna Schlegel
Exhibition title: hit pay dirt
Venue: basis, Frankfurt, Germany
Date: July 21 – August 27, 2023
Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and basis, Frankfurt
How do we approach a historical personality and his legacy with the means of photography? Johanna Schlegel and Lena Bils have found answers to this question and artistically address aspects of Wilhelm Merton’s life and work. Schlegel chooses preserved versions of a portrait painting by Wilhelm Merton as the starting point for her work. Bils addresses a topic that received little attention during Merton’s lifetime: the long-term pollution and destruction of the environment caused by the intensive metal industry in the Australian mining town of Broken Hill.
The Director of the Jewish Museum, Prof. Dr. Mirjam Wenzel, the art historian Prof. Dr. Christian Janecke, Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach (HfG), and Jakob Sturm, artistic director of basis e.v., will welcome the visitors to the vernissage. Afterwards, the photographers will present their works.
In cooperation with the Jewish Museum Frankfurt and HfG Offenbach.
Supported by Schleicher Stiftung and Kulturamt Frankfurt.
Lena Bils, installation view “hit pay dirt“ at basis e.V., 2023, courtesy: the artist, photo: Ivan Murzin
Lena Bils, Body of Ore, 2022-2023, installation view “hit pay dirt“ at basis e.V., 2023, courtesy: the artist, photo: Ivan Murzin
Installation view “hit pay dirt” at basis e.V., 2023, courtesy: the artist, photo: Ivan Murzin
Installation view “hit pay dirt” at basis e.V., 2023, courtesy: the artist, photo: Ivan Murzin
Lena Bils, Line of Lode, 2023, installation view “hit pay dirt“ at basis e.V., 2023, courtesy: the artist, photo: Ivan Murzin
Johanna Schlegel, Wilhelm Merton o. D., 1906, 1954, 1986, o. D; 2022-2023, installation view “hit pay dirt” at basis e.V., courtesy: the artist, photo: Ivan Murzin
Johanna Schlegel, Wilhelm Merton o. D., 1906, 1954, 1986, o. D; 2022-2023, installation view “hit pay dirt” at basis e.V., courtesy: the artist, photo: Ivan Murzin
Johanna Schlegel, Wilhelm Merton, undated (part of the installation Wilhelm Merton o. D., 1906, 1954, 1986, o. D; 2022-2023), installation view “hit pay dirt” at basis e.V., courtesy: the artist, photo: Ivan Murzin
Lena Bils, Never Never, 2023, installation view “hit pay dirt“ at basis e.V., 2023, courtesy: the artist, photo: Ivan Murzin