When can the exhibition be seen?

The exhibition runs from September 6, 2026, to November 8, 2026, at the Mannheim Art Association.

What is the admission fee?

The regular admission is 5 euros. Reduced and free admissions are possible according to house information.

Are there guided tours or accompanying events?

Yes, on September 16, 2026, there will be a discussion with Hartmut Kiewert and Hilal Sezgin. Further mediation offers can be requested through the art association.

Is photography allowed?

Yes, private photos and videos are generally allowed, as long as there is no notice in the room stating otherwise. Flash, tripods, and similar aids are not permitted.

Is the Mannheim Art Association barrier-free?

The art association points out structural limitations. Barrier-free access to the restrooms and the second floor is not guaranteed.

How do I get there best?

By train, take bus line 61 from the main train station towards Pfalzplatz to the Kunstverein stop. By car, the access is via the Mannheim-Mitte exit.

Encounter of the Species

Name: Hartmut Kiewert – Encounter of the Species
Start: 2026-09-13T12:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-11-08T17:00:00+01:00
Location: Mannheimer Kunstverein e.V.

When Painting Becomes an Attitude: Hartmut Kiewert at the Mannheim Art Association

With Encounter of the Species, the Mannheim Art Association opens a space for an art experience that is both aesthetic experience and social reflection. Hartmut Kiewert, born in 1980 in Koblenz and on the trail of the human-animal relationship since 2008, develops a figurative painting of particular clarity. His images formulate counterworlds to exploitation and dominance and invite quiet, concentrated contemplation of the work.

Figurative Painting as a Counterimage

Kiewert's pictorial spaces appear calm, controlled, and precisely constructed. Figures, animals, architecture, and urban situations enter into a compositional order that does not rely on quick effects but on perceptual sharpness. Pigs, cows, and chickens appear in parks, on streets, or in consumer landscapes not as decoration but as acting subjects. Thus, a painting emerges that translates ethical questions into visible form.

Between Utopia and Critique

The exhibition addresses the coexistence of species not as an abstract theory but as visual thoughts of great vividness. Kiewert's works present a future in which animals and humans meet on equal terms. This is precisely where the tension of this project lies: the scenes are both familiar and foreign, poetic and unequivocally political. The curation at the Mannheim Art Association enhances this impression by focusing on contemporary art that makes social orders visible.

A Place for Exchange and Cultural Education

The Mannheim Art Association is one of the oldest cultural mediation institutions in the city and has relied on exhibitions, catalogs, and discussions as forms of cultural education for decades. The exhibition also includes an accompanying program: On September 16, 2026, the discussion Picnic and Protest with the animal ethicist Hilal Sezgin will take place. This expands the exhibition beyond mere observation to include discourse, context, and mediation.

Visitor Experience at the Art Association

The exhibition space at Augustaanlage offers a concentrated atmosphere for contemporary painting. The art association is open from Tuesday to Sunday; private photography is generally allowed, as long as it respects the house rules. Those visiting the exhibition experience not only images but a multifaceted interplay of spatial effect, ethical questioning, and artistic precision.

Conclusion: Encounter of the Species compellingly demonstrates how painting today can unite attitude, imagination, and critique. Anyone seeking contemporary art with depth should definitely experience this exhibition live in Mannheim.