Alwin Maigler retraces Turkish migrant route in 'Vollgepackt' at Kunstverein Wagenhalle

The Mercedes-Benz Art Collection presents 'Vollgepackt' at Kunstverein Wagenhalle in Stuttgart, focusing on Turkish-German migration stories. Central to the exhibition is Alwin Maigler's 22-part photo series 'Başardık' ('We made it'). The Stuttgart-based photographer drove a historic 1977 Mercedes-Benz coupé—the year the Art Collection was founded—along the 'Heimatweg' (homeland route), the classic road taken by many labour migrants between Germany and Turkey. His 6,000-kilometer journey crossed eleven countries, documenting encounters with people and places. The series includes the image 'su dökmek – Istanbul', depicting the tradition of pouring water behind a departing car to wish travelers a safe journey. Video interviews conducted by Coşkun Yasa, head of the Turkish Employee Network, complement the exhibition, featuring current and former Mercedes-Benz employees with migration backgrounds, discussing work, family, and cultural belonging. The motif of the bridge appears frequently, symbolizing connection between two sides.