Während draußen die Welt untergeht
The ninth edition of the art festival "Various Others" opened in Munich amid rain, with galleries, institutions, and off-spaces presenting their exhibitions. Highlights include Jana Schröder's large-format paintings at Jahn und Jahn, juxtaposed with Willem de Kooning's works on newspaper; André Butzer's solo show at Galerie Christine Mayer, featuring his transition from monochrome 'N-Bilder' back to color; and Anselm Reyle's solo exhibition at Walter Storms in collaboration with Galerie Dirimart. Two standout shows are inspired by Persian miniature painting: Elif Saydam's 'Glory' at Galerie Rüdiger Schöttle, where silver and gold leaf works will oxidize over centuries, and another exhibition exploring bodies in transitional states—pupating, oxidizing, and escaping fixed forms.
This festival matters because it provides a platform for emerging and established artists to present work that challenges formal boundaries, particularly through the theme of bodies in flux. The inclusion of Persian miniature influences and material experimentation (such as oxidation) reflects broader trends in contemporary art toward cross-cultural dialogue and process-based works. As a major event in Munich's art calendar, 'Various Others' also serves as a barometer for current artistic preoccupations and gallery programming, offering insights into the direction of the German and international art scenes.