Culture in a Metropolitan Region

Sculpture. Nature. Architecture. For more than two decades, the art biennial Blickachsen has been swinging in this triad. Located always in prominent public parks and green spaces, such as the Kurpark in Bad Homburg, once created by landscape architect Lenné, or the spacious front lawn on the Frankfurt University Campus Westend. International artists — Yoko Ono, William Forsythe and many others in 2019 — occupy these designed natural areas with scenography, expansive and often interactive sculptures. They correspond to the spaces and buildings that surround them. The British-Jamaican sound artist Satch Hoyt, for example, plays on the campus green. The pale (National Socialist) historical backdrop of the university buildings combined with stele-like totems made of colorful plastic buckets and QR code-generated pieces of music, reflect the history of African diaspora. Also eclectic: the large tubular structures by the artist duo Winter/Hörbelt. In Kurpark Bad Homburg they internalise the original idea of Lennés line of sight (in German Blickachse). But the view is directed through a tunnel made of beverage crates. In total, around 60 installations by around 30 international contemporary artists can be seen at six locations in the region during the summer months. A good opportunity to discover interesting places and interesting art.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Weissenhof, Oskar Schlemmer and the Triadic Ballet, Mart Stam and the cantilever chair: three artists, three works, one name: Bauhaus. The famous institute for architecture, arts and design was founded in Weimar 100 years ago. Although Dessau and Weimar were home to the academy of this new modernity, it was in Frankfurt where many of the ideas and concepts were implemented. For this “New Frankfurt”, city planner Ernst May and architects like Friedrich Kramer and Martin Elsaesser created a form of social and modern housing with revolutionary ideas such as the Frankfurt kitchen or Frankfurt bathroom. Design assumed social responsibility. Walking through May‘s settlements is an easy way to explore living Bauhaus. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary, Frankfurt will also hold three extraordinary exhibitions.

Offenbach has been the place on which Frankfurters used to either look down or make jokes that were more or less original. But times are changing, thanks to thriving hotbed for creatives the HfG_OF. For a long time in the shadows of Frankfurt's famous Städelschule and its many international students, Offenbach's Hochschule für Gestaltung (University of Design) has caught up and became a booming centre for Art & Design. Both, HfG_OF and Städelschule are just two talent pools of the virulent free and young art scene of the region. In addition there are many larger and smaller studio houses like the Atelierfrankfurt and Basis Frankfurt, where around 200 artists have a place to work and for showings. Smaller studios such as the Waggonfabrik Mainz, the Zollamtstudios Offenbach or the Atelierhaus Darmstadt are spread all over the Rhein-Main region. The studios and art schools invite to open studios and presentations several times a year: one highlight of the summer most certainly is the three-day HfG tour with cross-media and film night. During Winter several studios exhibit Christmas or art bazaars.

There are over 100 museums in the region with a wide range of exhibitions throughout the year. The following is just a small selection of the overall offer. Spring Edition.

There are over 100 museums in the region with a wide range of exhibitions throughout the year. The following is just a small selection of the overall offer. Summer Edition.