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

Raquel Mora Vega (@(@quel.papelroto) is making magic 🥰 I suggested a story to her for a picture book and I think she is gathering the actors around her.
#corneliafunke #artistinresidence #raquelmoravega #illustrator #costarica

My new temporary home on beautiful #FairIsle where I’ll be working on a new opera
#shetland #newmusic #artistinresidence

Throwback Thursday

Since our last project in Finland has now been completed, I will be sharing images from past events that took place as part of our project series PRESERVED at irregular intervals from now on.

Lämpöpaikka

We created this intervention in the frame of a residency grant at platform Vaasa in Finland in 2013 and presented it during a Performance Festival in Seinäjoki in public space. A small stove was connected to an electrical outlet that is normally used in winter to keep car engines warm (Lämpöpaikka/värmeplats) in order to cook jam. The berries used for preserving were provided to us by visitors to the event. During the whole stay in Vaasa we dealt with the berry culture in northern Europe.

#art #conceptualart #contemporaryart #kunst #konzeptkunst #zeitgenössischekunst #performance #intervention #artistresidency #artistinresidence #platform #platformvaasa #vasa #vaasa #finland #finnland #österbotten #ostrobothnia #beeren #marmelade #berries #jam #seinäjoki #performancefestival #sonnenschirm #einkochen #preserving #preserved #scheibeundgüntzel #lämpöpaikka #värmeplats

Borealisfestival i #Bergen Vi venter på Jaleh Negari #artistinresidence #experimentalmusic #musikk #norskmusikk #bergenkjøtt #borealis #festival #norsktut #contemporarymusic

In my website you will find my last residence work and exhibition in Andalusië in 2025 and my latest work in this year. See also the agenda for what is coming up.
http://www.ellenrodenberg.nl/index%203.htm


#artistinresidence #arteventura2025 #art #artperformance #artistcollective #drawings #painting #artistbook