Lütfiye Güzel and Stephan Muschick on the Aesthetics of Ugliness in the Ruhr
In a conversation with Monopol, poet Lütfiye Güzel and E.ON Foundation CEO Stephan Muschick discuss the Ruhr region, focusing on Duisburg-Marxloh, the beauty of decay, and the freedom of pigeons. Güzel describes the Ruhr as black-and-white, shaped by labor and directness, and identifies with pigeons as underdogs. She champions a "broken poetry" that mirrors the region's vacant lots and makeshift repairs, like the taped glass facades at Duisburg Hauptbahnhof. Muschick notes that Urban Arts Ruhr turned Güzel's question "who do the pigeons belong to?" into a public art campaign with posters and postcards. Güzel, who self-publishes and won the Fakir Baykurt Culture Prize, critiques local authorities for ignoring her and calls for inclusion in Manifesta 16 Ruhr. She reads her poem "pinky helsinki," which evokes freedom and flight.
Key facts
- Lütfiye Güzel is a poet from Duisburg-Marxloh.
- Stephan Muschick is CEO of the E.ON Foundation.
- Güzel describes the Ruhr as black-and-white and shaped by labor.
- She calls her writing 'broken poetry' (kaputte Lyrik).
- Urban Arts Ruhr turned Güzel's question about pigeons into a public art campaign.
- Güzel won the Fakir Baykurt Culture Prize.
- She self-publishes and lives from her work.
- Güzel hopes to be invited to Manifesta 16 Ruhr.
- She recited her poem 'pinky helsinki' at the end of the interview.
Entities
Artists
- Lütfiye Güzel
Institutions
- E.ON Foundation
- Urban Arts Ruhr
- Manifesta 16 Ruhr
- Monopol
Locations
- Ruhr region
- Duisburg-Marxloh
- Duisburg
- Hamborn
- Berlin
- Germany