For most of human history, utilizing waste was the norm. In the early nineteen hundreds, recycling materials like paper, rags, and bones was important for both businesses and households. During the First and Second World Wars, nations increased recycling efforts to support their war needs. More recently, we have intensified ‘waste’ reclamation, taking socio-cultural values on board when it comes to future programming of historic architecture, contemporary ways of repurposing materials, and acknowledging acts of physical labour in a society that is otherwise focused on screen-based individuals.
For Ornamenta’s “Schmutzige Ecke” exhibition, an architectural beacon of post-war circular building, made of sorted and repurposed rubble, is reconfigured as a site where ideas and people meet to talk about taboos and reinventing heritage. They have a common goal to pave the way to a more equal society and diversify the canon of our built environment. Architect Egon Eiermann once provocatively stated, 'A church is just as functional a building as a public toilet,' reflecting a progressive pragmatism.
In line with this sentiment, the exhibition “Schmutzige Ecke” showcases projects and works by a diverse range of creatives. This includes artist Josse Pyl, architectural and urban planning groups ARCH+ and Summacumfemmer, Büro Juliane Greb, artist collective Spazio Cura, design studio ThusThat collaborating with metal recyclers Heimerle + Meule, artistic director Henriette Waal, Amalia Shem Tov, Jan Schulz, Anthea Oestreicher, and Moreno Schweikle for beer Brewery Ketterer.
Upon invitation of pastor Julia Kaiser, a project group of theology experts organises a series of 'Schmutzige Ecke Sunday Services' in collaboration with Ornamenta. On three different dates panel talks bring together theology and art with Zeno Franchini, Former Fellow (2021) and Head Mentor (2023-24) of dieDAS Design Akademie Saaleck, Basse Stittgen, Former Fellow (2020) of dieDAS Design Akademie Saaleck, artist and performer Martina Morger, and architect Juliane Greb.
