miriam helen vollmeier

exhibition

rot_licht

the exhibition “rot_licht - körper, kampfund kunst” (red_light - body, combat and art) is an exhibition by students of the master's programme in public interest design at the university of wuppertal that tells the story of an exciting interplay between culture, power and history.

the project was thematically inspired by the special exhibition setting: the former table dance bar ‘eros centre’ at wesendonkstraße 18 in wuppertal.

from 14 to 28 march, visitors are invited to discover the complexity of red light in this meaningful location by means of four main themes.

the aim of the exhibition is to break with conceptual associations in order to gain new perspectives on the seemingly familiar.

during my master-studies:

Public Interest Design

open 8 days
400-560 visitors

concept

research at part 1

corporate design

production supervision
final artwork

part 1
the history of prostitution ↓

the first section of the exhibition is dedicated to the most immediate association of the term red light, which is closely linked to the location.

in the form of a timeline, it chronologically shows the historical stages that sex workers have passed through from antiquity to the present day.

by means of various digressions, visitors are invited to delve deeper into individual historical periods, such as prostitution during the nazi era.

the station portrays the changing social significance and perception of prostitution globally, nationally and locally with a view to the historical context.

the cooperation with the wuppertal city archive enables the presentation of revealing historical artefacts with a direct connection to the city.

part 2
between people ↓

in analogue photography, red light is used to reveal the invisible.

the third section of the exhibition is dedicated to this effect of red light, both literally and metaphorically.

the station shows human facets in analogue black and white portraits and questions the social prejudices that shape our image of each other.

snapshots of different people, combined with personal quotes, convey a feeling for the people portrayed that goes beyond labels and hard facts.

the photographic work is an appeal to allow interpersonal experiences, to dare to look behind the façade and to face up to the complexity of human existence.

part 3
red light ↓

the second station of the exhibition works with red light as a powerful element of artistic staging, playing with associations that are linked to the colour red.

the section tells of these attributions along dante's work ‘the divine comedy’.

the tripartite division of this tale, which is regarded as world literature, into hell, purgatory and paradise is reflected in the structure of the immersive installation.

in three separate chambers, visitors have the opportunity to experience the colour red as a symbol of sin, redemption and love.

the experiential narrative confrontation makes new interpretations of the concept of red light tangible, putting rational connections in the background and instead placing human emotions at the centre of our perception.