The unicorn - now on view!

The results of my artist residency in Darmstadt are now on view and can be visited at Atelierhaus LEW 1 in Darmstadt.

The residency took place in the frame of the project Re-Negotiating Space, a series of dialogues and interventions curated by Lukas Einsele (Kultur einer Digitalstadt e.V.) and Jan A. Eckert and is part of the official World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026 (Design for Democracy: Atmospheres for a better life). The residency was made possible by #DarmstädterTagederFotografie.

During my stay I developed the photographic series "Re-Negotiating Space / Unicorn" where the urban space of Darmstadt is understood as a site of ongoing negotiation processes. Questions concerning the self conception of humans in relation to nature intersect with ecological necessities, while at the same time divergent visions within the urban community regarding the use of public space stand in tension with the city’s planning and political interests. I responded to this through a performative intervention in the urban environment by inserting myself in a unicorn costume at selected locations throughout Darmstadt. The figure functioned as a deliberately introduced moment of irritation that shifts habitual modes of perception and reveals both constructed notions of nature and concepts of use within the urban context.

The project was developed in cooperation with Darmstadt based photographer Andreas Zierhut.

Exhibition:
Swaantje Güntzel: Re-Negotiating Space / Unicorn, 24.4. - 3.5.2026
Opening hours: TUE – FRI, 2 - 6 p.m. SAT – SUN 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Atelierhaus LEW 1
Ludwig-Engel-Weg 1
64287 Darmstadt

[Swaantje Güntzel, Re-Negotiating Space / Unicorn / City-Ring, 2026, Print on Hahnemühle baryta paper, 30 x 45 cm]

Foto: Andreas Zierhut



#art #photography #fotografie #artistinresidence #darmstadt #conceptualart #konzeptkunst #andreaszierhut #wdc2026 #wdc #einhorn #unicorn #rns #renegotiatingspace #lukaseinsele #janeckert

Re-Negotiating Space (Dialogues for Urban Ecological Democracy)
Start of dialogue series & opening of my exhibition

On April 18th, 2026 the dialogue series Re-Negotiating Space will be kicked off at the studio of LEW 1 in Darmstadt. I have been an Artist-in-Residence in the frame of Re-Negotiating Space, hosted by #DarmstädterTagederFotografie for the last weeks and will be presenting the results of my stay the same day. The dialogue session starts at 2 p.m., the opening of the exhibition is scheduled for 7 p.m..

More information: https://re-negotiating.space/rns1

Re-Negotiating Space is a series of dialogues, interactions, and interventions exploring democratic instruments for renegotiating urban spaces between human and planetary needs in Darmstadt. The series is curated by Lukas Einsele (Kultur einer Digitalstadt e.V.) and Jan A. Eckert, PhD and is part of the official World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026 (Design for Democracy: Atmospheres for a better life).

In the frame of my residency I cooperated with the Darmstadt based photographer Andreas Zierhut to realize the series “Re-Negotiating Space / Unicorn”, a series where the urban space of Darmstadt is conceived as a site of ongoing processes of negotiation. Questions concerning the self-conception of the human in relation to nature intersect here with ecological imperatives, while at the same time divergent visions within urban society regarding the use of public space stand in tension with the city’s planning and political interests. I respond through a performative intervention in the urban environment, inscribing myself into these sites by appearing in a unicorn costume.

Videostill Making of: Albrecht Haag

#art #conceptualart #contemporaryart #renegotiatingspace #darmstadt #kultureinerdigitalstadt #neuekünstlerkolonie #fotografie #photography #einhorn #unicorn #konzeptkunst #andreaszierhut #lukaseinsele #janeckert #artistinresidence #wdc2026 #worlddesigncapitalfrankfurt2026 #ked #hessen

REMINDER
The exhibition "Infinity - Empitness - Liveliness" at Planetarium Hamburg can still be visited until May 31st! Where Art meets Science in Space.

What do our imagination of Outer Space have in common with our imagination of the Arctic? And why is it important to become aware of our cultures of perceptions for creating more just and sustainable futures?

The exhibition was realized by Die Junge Akademie (Anne Hemkendreis, Oliver Rymek, Timo de Wolff, Professor Michael Saliba) and hosted by Planetarium Hamburg.


Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - German Research Foundation
Das Dokumetarische Exzess und Entzug DFG-Graduiertenkolleg
#BodovonBorriesFoundation

Poster: Swaantje Güntzel, Andreas Zierhut "Sterntaler", 2022
Design: Spirit & Bones Design

"Sterntaler" was realized during my Artist-in-Science Residence at European Space Agency - ESA / ESOC in Darmstadt in 2022, organized by Kultur einer Digitalstadt e.V..

#art #conceptualart #contemporaryart #artmeetsscience #planetariumhamburg #hamburg #space #esa #andreaszierhut #spacedebris #exhibition #annehemkendreis #diejungeakademie #oliverrymek #timodewolf #michaelsaliba #deutscheforschungsgemeinschaft #dasdokumentarische #spiritandbonesdesign #artistinscienceresidence #artistresidency #artistinscience #sterntaler #brothersgrimm #reddress #swaantjeguentzel #swaantjegüntzel #kultureinerdigitalstadt #darmstadt

STERNTALER / THE STAR MONEY

Contemporary interpretation of the fairytale "Sterntaler" (engl. “The Star Money or Start Talers”) from the Children‘s and Household Tales of the Brothers Grimm. The artist gazes into the evening sky, where a string of Starlink satellites manufactured by SpaceX can be seen flying in a row alongside stylized stars. The work is a collaboration between Swaantje Güntzel and the Darmstadt-based photographer Andreas Zierhut. It was created during an Artist-in-Science Residency Güntzel held at the European Space Agency (ESA/ESOC) in Darmstadt in 2022, realized by Kultur einer Digitalstadt (KeD).

The work is currently on display in the exhibition "Infinity - Emptiness - Liveliness" at Planetarium Hamburg. Organized by Junge Akademie, curated by Anne Hemkendreis. The exhibition can be visited until May 31st, 2025.

Swaantje Güntzel, Andreas Zierhut, 2022
Sterntaler
Diasec
120 x 80 cm
Foto: Andreas Zierhut

#art #contemporaryart #kunst #zeitgenössischekunst #conceptualart #konzeptkunst #womensart #womenartists #esa #europeanspaceagency #starlink #spacex #spacedebris #space #satellites #andreaszierhut #darmstadt #kultureinerdigitalstadt #fotografie #photography #raumfahrt #planetariumhamburg #jungeakademie #annehemkendreis #weltraumschrott #europäischeweltraumagentur #märchen #fairytale #sterntaler #gebrüdergrimm #thestarmoney #brothersgrimm #thebrothersgrimm #artistinscience #artistresidency #artistresidence