Currents of the Present

The value of water is once again very much in the spotlight this summer. Using the Rhine—the lifeline of numerous cities—as an example, an art exhibition in Düsseldorf highlights the central importance of rivers for ecosystems and the emergence of life. Five artists from the independent group Das Bunte Bilder Kartell—Ute Augustin-Kaiser, Tilman Schmitten, Amos Plaut, Elisabeth Wagner, and Gabriele Weide—are presenting paintings, ceramics, and sculptures centered on the theme of water in the exhibition Everything Flows. The exhibits are on display at the Ballhaus in Nordpark, a 230 m² (about 2480 sq ft) exhibition space in Düsseldorf located in the immediate vicinity of the Aqua-Zoo and the Rhine. Gabriele Weide, who is participating in the Art.Salon artist program, addresses in her works issues such as water pollution caused by (micro)plastics and its extreme consequences for aquatic life and, ultimately, for life on land as well. Everything Flows opens on July 17 at 7 p.m. and runs through July 26. An artist talk will take place at 1 p.m. on the closing day.

Düsseldorf-based artist Gabriele Weide has been exploring the impact of human activity on the oceans in her work for many years. Her focus is particularly on pollution and overfishing. Weide also explores nature in her other works: using a visual language that straddles figuration and abstraction, she addresses other environmental changes, urban vegetation, and the indescribable diversity and creative power of nature. As a member of the group Das Bunte Bilder Kartell, the artist exhibited this year in April at the innovative Düsseldorf art fair ArtArtist, for example.

Ballhaus im Nordpark
Kaiserswerther Str. 390, 40474 Düsseldorf
Opening hours:
Tue–Fri 12 p.m.–8 p.m., Sat & Sun 1 p.m.–8 p.m.