Every four weeks, on the last Wednesday of the month, the VW Group invites visitors to the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg for free under the label “Art4All.” Due to the Christmas holiday, this event will take place on December 18th. In addition to free admission, guided tours are also offered at no charge. All in all, it’s a wonderful opportunity. This time, the program features two exhibitions. On one hand, “Weightless” by the Argentine artist Leandro Erlich. On the other hand, “A Question of Perception” by the American video artist Gary Hill. What I wasn’t aware of beforehand is that visitors can experience weightlessness in Erlich’s performance themselves. For me, it was a truly unique experience that I wished I could hold onto forever.<\/p>\n
A feeling like a childhood dream<\/strong> We learn that both the moon and the spaceship installations are accessible. In both, one can experience weightlessness. However, this is only suitable for those without a fear of heights. Hmm, I wonder what it feels like to be weightless? In front of the entrance to the moon, a small queue of visitors has already formed, waiting for their turn. The line isn\u2019t too long yet. Right after the short tour, I join the queue. Before entering, shoe covers are handed out. Only a handful of people are allowed inside at a time. After a few minutes, it\u2019s my turn. My shoe covers are on, and I\u2019m ready. However, I have no idea what to expect. And I think it\u2019s fantastic. Images of space, cities, and streets are projected onto the dome of the moon. Upon stepping onto the surface, it initially feels as if you\u2019re stepping into nothingness\u2014though, of course, that isn\u2019t the case. A sense of fascination overtakes me. It\u2019s simply incredible what I\u2019m feeling. Like a childhood dream come true. I think I could stay here for hours.<\/p>\n Completely Weightless in Erlich\u2019s Spaceship<\/strong> For the exhibition, the artist created a spaceship that is partially accessible. Mirrors inside create the illusion that visitors are floating, just like astronauts in space. This, too, is a remarkable experience.<\/p>\n It\u2019s nearing 5 PM, and I want to join the guided tour for the second exhibition. We gather again in the forum. Curator Elena Engelbrechter leads us through the rooms. I must admit, though, that I can\u2019t quite connect with the video installations. The artist\u2019s intent seems to be to provoke a shift in perspective by deconstructing and reconstructing images and language. Unfortunately, the volume of some pieces is so loud that it\u2019s hard to hear the explanations during the tour. The noise level feels more irritating than engaging, and the staccato delivery of the spoken parts doesn\u2019t help. Compared to Erlich\u2019s performance, my enthusiasm here is more restrained.<\/p>\n We learn that the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg holds the largest collection in Germany, with 46 works.<\/p>\n 20 Years of Solitude<\/strong> I let the pile sink in for a while before heading through the city back to the train station. I\u2019m still thrilled by Erlich\u2019s works and congratulate myself on this delightful Wednesday afternoon art experience! This certainly won\u2019t be my last visit to the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg.<\/p>\n
\nPromptly at 4 PM, it begins. The turnout is large that day, despite numerous other distractions, such as the Christmas market in downtown Wolfsburg. From the first group of visitors, three groups form. Two want to experience weightlessness, while the third group heads to Gary Hill. We follow the art educator into the large hall and first stop in front of a cloud framed in a glass case. The room also contains a walk-in spaceship, a walk-in moon, an uprooted house, more clouds, and a few sculptures. The illusion of the floating cloud dissipates as one approaches the display case from the side. It then becomes clear that there are several layers of glass standing behind each other, allowing the viewer’s eye to form a floating cloud.<\/p>\n
\nNext, I look at the uprooted house from below, which serves as the central motif of the exhibition. The roots beneath the house symbolize the uprooting of people forced to leave their homes. I ascend the steps to the gallery. Here, Erlich\u2019s sculptures are displayed: artworks made from marble, glass, bronze, and ceramic. From up here, one can also look through the windows of the floating house and see that even the furniture inside is airborne.<\/p>\n
\nAt the end of the exhibition, just before leaving the premises, I encounter a layered pile of books, pictures, and other items. This is a work by artist Anselm Kiefer titled \u201c20 Years of Solitude.\u201d The piece has been in this spot since the museum\u2019s opening. The title refers to the years 1971 to 1991. Among other things, Kiefer uses this work to reflect on his life: a retrospective exhibition at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, a failed marriage, and ultimately leaving Germany.<\/p>\n