Foreign Parts and Freedom

Mona Höke and Kathrin Karras

Pückler — Dialogue about a Cosmopolitan

20/06/—23/08/26

 

The three-part exhibition series „Foreign Parts and Freedom“ presents a joint artistic exploration of Prince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau by the painter Mona Höke and the photographic artist Kathrin Karras. The two artists dedicate themselves to the world traveler, the landscape designer, and the imaginative Pückler, thus approaching the historical figure with different emphases and perspectives. „Pückler – Dialogue about a Cosmopolitan“ is the result of the artists‘ many years of engagement with the figure of Pückler, the historical context of his social environment, and his work. Until now, these explorations of Pückler as a passionate author of literary letters, a virtually ingenious landscape architect, or an advocate of pantheism have been incorporated into the individual artistic practice of Mona Höke and Kathrin Karras. Now, however, the painter and the photographic artist are not only working together on a thematic complex for the first time, but are also jointly responsible for a portion of the images. Their respective forms of expression, articulations, and visual concepts intertwine within the images.

 

The exhibition therefore presents three different forms of imagery and authorship, each revealing different methods of pictorial reflection: the collaboratively created work is centrally placed in the exhibition space. Furthermore, individually created images by both Mona Höke and Kathrin Karras are shown, opening up a space for associations with the thematic complex. The most significant part of the show, however, manifests itself in the works in which the visual worlds, techniques, and specific characteristics of the two artists overlap and are mutually developed. While Mona Höke intervenes on photographs by Kathrin Karras using the means of painting and (textual) drawing, Kathrin Karras collages photographs on fragments of images by Mona Höke.

 

„Pückler — Dialogue about a Cosmopolitan“ is the first presentation within the three-part exhibition cycle „Foreign Parts and Freedom“. „Connecting Worlds — Pückler’s Orient in his Landscapes“ can be seen from July 31 to October 31, 2026, at the Prince Pückler Museum Park and Castle Foundation. Under the title „Oh Joy of Life — Pückler’s Tutti Frutti“, the gallery MA/RIE/MIX 23 presents the third part of the cycle from August 15 to October 31, 2026.

 

Strangers and Freedom is a collaboration between the Brandenburg State Museum of Modern Art, Branitz, and MA/RIE/MIX 23. The artists received support for the production of the exhibition series from the City of Cottbus’s Arts & Culture Fund.