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Last chance: Hohler Biennale in Gera is fighting for its future!
The Hohler Biennale in Gera shows art in historic beer cellars until October 17, 2025 and faces an uncertain future.
Last chance: Hohler Biennale in Gera is fighting for its future!
The Hohler Biennale in Gera has a special star this season, as it could possibly be the last exhibition directed by Gitta Heil. The curator has been volunteering for this impressive art show, which is deeply rooted in history, since 2005. Gitta Heil described the project as a matter of the heart and the decision to stop the biennale was not easy, but was based on her retirement planning and the demands that such an organization brings with it. The biennale, which takes place in historic beer cellars, has made a name for itself in the art scene over the last 20 years, but the uncertain successor leaves questions about the future, as Deutschlandfunk Kultur reports.
The ancient deposits, known as caves and built in the 16th and 17th centuries, serve as an unusual backdrop for artworks by 25 international artists on display this year. The focus is particularly on topics such as climate protection and geopolitical upheavals. The high humidity of 95% in the cellars influences the installations and creates a unique atmosphere that brings the works of art to life. These fascinating works of art will currently be on display until October 17, 2025, and at the end of the exhibition the German Installation Art Prize will be awarded, which further enhances the event.
Challenges and perspectives
The challenges facing the Biennale are diverse. The Association for the Preservation of the Gera Caves must not only find a successor for Gitta Heil, but also raise the necessary funds to continue the biennale. The second chairman of the association, Wieland Kögel, emphasizes how important this task is. Felix Eckerle, the head of the cultural office, describes the biennale as unique and underlines the special role of installation art in the region. There are considerations as to whether the city of Gera could be more closely involved in the Biennale in the future, with the first step being the renovation of the culture and congress center, as MDR reports.
A ray of hope for the Biennale could appear in two years, when plans for the next exhibition are reassessed. Gitta Heil would like to see her project continued in “loving hands”, ideally with new ideas and young art historians. The future of the Biennale remains uncertain, also with regard to the support from the city of Gera and the association, but the passion for art and the special atmosphere of the caves remain as important impulses.