WISSEN UM WEISS / 1

One of its priorities is to highlight key aspects of his work in dialogue with contemporary perspectives. In doing so, the series is interested not only in direct biographical links, but also in intrinsic, cross-generational affinities – particularly where artists have never met or where there has been no direct influence. ‘WISSEN UM WEISS’ thus follows on from exhibitions such as ‘Schatten aus Licht’ with Lothar Wolleh (2023) and ‘Swing’ with Dieter Mammel (2025).

In Sabine Herrmann’s work, white appears as a colour in its own right and, at the same time, as a transparent line that overlays coloured compositions and intensifies them. In Bernd Kerkin’s work, it is the result of increasing reduction and concentration.

Light, as a crafted absence of darkness, is achieved in painting through layered overlays as well as through the deliberate omission of elements against a white background. From these individually very different techniques emerge visual worlds of melancholic depth and, at the same time, uplifting lightness. Their inherent poetry transcends the narrow horizons of our complex everyday lives.

White is the sum of all light colours. The works brought together here, too, form a sum of individual colour worlds – with nuances and subtleties that reveal themselves through observation and conversation.

As part of the exhibition, there will be an opportunity to meet Sabine Herrmann and Bernd Kerkin and engage in conversation with them:

• 14 October 2026, 6.30 pm: Exhibition opening, with music by Conny Bauer (jazz)
• 29 October 2026, 6.00 pm: Guided tour with Bernd Kerkin
• 5 November 2026, 6.00 pm: moderated discussion with Sabine Herrmann and Bernd Kerkin
• 14 January 2027, 6.00 pm: Guided tour with Sabine Herrmann
• 21 January 2027: Closing event