When can the exhibition be visited?

The exhibition can be visited on November 7, 2026, starting at 12 PM at the Mannheim Art Association. Regular opening hours on that day extend until 5 PM.

How much does admission cost?

The regular admission price is 5 euros.

Where is the exhibition taking place?

The exhibition takes place at the Mannheim Art Association e.V. at Augustaanlage 58, 68165 Mannheim.

What kind of art does Hartmut Kiewert showcase?

Contemporary figurative painting that explores the relationship between humans and non-human animals is presented.

Is the venue accessible for people with disabilities?

The Mannheim Art Association notes structural restrictions. Access to the restrooms and the second floor is not fully barrier-free.

Is there a publication accompanying the exhibition?

A publication from the Mannheim Art Association featuring a text by Prof. Dr. Jessica Ullrich and a preface by Dr. Friedrich W. Kasten will be released alongside the exhibition.

ZUsammenKUNFT DER SPEZIES

Name: Hartmut Kiewert – ZUsammenKUNFT DER SPEZIES
Start: 2026-11-07T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-07T17:00:00+01:00
Location: Mannheimer Kunstverein e.V.

Hartmut Kiewert: A future where humans and animals encounter each other

At the Mannheim Art Association, Hartmut Kiewert's exhibition ZUsammenKUNFT DER SPEZIES invites a focused examination of the relationship between humans and animals. The contemporary figurative painting of the Leipzig artist develops visual worlds where non-human animals appear as autonomous individuals and encounter humans on equal footing.

Figurative painting as a counter-image to the familiar order

Hartmut Kiewert studied painting and graphics at the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle and graduated in 2010 with distinction. Since 2008, he has devoted himself to the societal relationship between humans and animals. His paintings create counter-images to exploitation, displacement, and objectification: pigs, cows, and chickens leave the industrial order and conquer parks, streets, interiors, and urban landscapes.

Calm images, far-reaching questions

The works appear clearly structured, calm, and consciously restrained. Clear narratives or dramatic intensifications recede in favor of an open aesthetic experience. It is precisely this quiet exhibition atmosphere that challenges the viewer's gaze. Colors, shapes, bodies, and spatial relationships appear as carefully composed elements of a new social landscape.

Kiewert's visual language combines painterly precision with ethical reflection. The animals are not mere props or symbols on the periphery of events; they are active agents and subjects of their own lives. This shifts the perspective of the viewers: it is not humans who form the obvious center, but a multi-voiced community of different species.

Art historical classification and cultural education

The exhibition is set against the backdrop of contemporary art that critically examines ecological responsibility, animal ethics, and anthropocentric worldviews. Kiewert's works connect to the tradition of figurative painting but open it up to questions of multi-species society. The examination of the works thus becomes a form of cultural education: it sharpens perception and encourages a reevaluation of familiar notions of nature, civilization, and coexistence.

Kiewert's working method also follows his conceptual stance. The artist lives vegan and, according to his own statements, does not use any materials of animal origin. Thus, art and life practice are closely linked.

An artistic experience with societal resonance

For years, Kiewert's position has been visible in solo and group exhibitions, including presentations at the Citadel Berlin, the Cubus Art Hall Duisburg, the Kunstmuseum Heidenheim, and the German National Museum in Nuremberg. Accompanying the Mannheim exhibition, a publication from the Mannheim Art Association will be released featuring contributions from Prof. Dr. Jessica Ullrich and a preface by Dr. Friedrich W. Kasten.

ZUsammenKUNFT DER SPEZIES awaits art enthusiasts as a sensual and insightful encounter with contemporary painting. Those who wish to view the relationship between humans and animals from a new perspective, experience the impact of calm image spaces, and expand their own perception should visit this exhibition live at the Mannheim Art Association.