Leandro Erlich: weightless
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.
A feeling like a childhood dream
Promptly 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.
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’t 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’s my turn. My shoe covers are on, and I’m ready. However, I have no idea what to expect. And I think it’s 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’re stepping into nothingness—though, of course, that isn’t the case. A sense of fascination overtakes me. It’s simply incredible what I’m feeling. Like a childhood dream come true. I think I could stay here for hours.
Completely Weightless in Erlich’s Spaceship
Next, 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’s 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.
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.
It’s 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’t quite connect with the video installations. The artist’s 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’s 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’t help. Compared to Erlich’s performance, my enthusiasm here is more restrained.
We learn that the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg holds the largest collection in Germany, with 46 works.
20 Years of Solitude
At 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 “20 Years of Solitude.” The piece has been in this spot since the museum’s 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.
I let the pile sink in for a while before heading through the city back to the train station. I’m still thrilled by Erlich’s works and congratulate myself on this delightful Wednesday afternoon art experience! This certainly won’t be my last visit to the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg.
