ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Nicole Wermers' Subversive Survey Exhibition at Kunstverein in Hamburg

exhibition · 2026-04-20

From March 3 to May 6, 2018, Kunstverein in Hamburg hosted Nicole Wermers' inaugural survey exhibition, which playfully challenges male dominance in both commercial and public domains. Among the showcased works is Palisades (1998/2017), which depicts conference and shopping centers in an inverted manner. The exhibition also includes The Long Hello (2017), a 20-meter array of doormats, alongside Mood Board #2 and #3 (2016), featuring baby-changing stations, and Double Sandtable (2007), an office table covered in sand. Wermers' Dishwashing Sculptures (2013–7) balance kitchen items, while Earring (2006) takes on an invertebrate form. Untitled Chairs (2015–7) utilize fur coats as backrests, and Vertical Awnings (2016) humorously reference Brancusi's Endless Column. Croissants and Architecture (2016–17) juxtaposes pastries with sandpaper, collectively critiquing gender dynamics in contemporary art.

Key facts

  • Exhibition dates: March 3 – May 6, 2018
  • Location: Kunstverein in Hamburg
  • Artist: Nicole Wermers
  • Exhibition type: First survey exhibition
  • Key work: Palisades (1998/2017) video
  • Key work: The Long Hello (2017) 20m doormat installation
  • Key work: Vertical Awnings (2016) parodying Brancusi
  • Key work: Croissants and Architecture (2016–17) photo-collages

Entities

Artists

  • Nicole Wermers
  • Marcel Breuer
  • Constantin Brancusi
  • Bernd Becher
  • Hilla Becher

Institutions

  • Kunstverein in Hamburg
  • ArtReview

Locations

  • Hamburg
  • Germany

Sources