The artist duo Katharina Stöver and Barbara Wolff have been working together since 2005 under the name of Peles Empire, questioning categories like “original” and “reproduction” in their work. They borrow not just the name of the Romanian castle of Peles, but alienate it as part of their work. The historical structure, which unites different historic architectural styles in a collage-like manner, is always a reference point for the works, which often undergo a double translation of two- and threedimensionality, from object to image of it and back to sculpture. In addition, the aspect of hosting is part of the artistic practice of Peles Empire, who have created various spaces for dialogue and organized exhibitions with other artists in Frankfurt, London, Los Angeles, Cluj, Istanbul and Berlin. For Portikus XXX, Peles Empire return to Frankfurt where they started with salons and bar evenings. They are presenting a bar made of Jesmonite, a special material that the two artists have discovered for their work and reconceived as a form of expression.

The event takes place on 05 August 2017 at 20h at

Parkhaus Alt-Sachsenhausen
Upper parking deck
Walter-Kolb-Straße 16
60594 Frankfurt am Main

Portikus is turning thirty. Founded as a small art space on Schöne Aussicht in 1987, we moved from there to the Leinwandhaus and then to the Maininsel. Portikus XXX is the name of our anniversary project that doesn’t look back, but simply keeps moving ahead, not inside Portikus itself, but in the city so important to Portikus: Frankfurt am Main. We leave our space and, with small gestures and major interventions, present new works in urban places that shape the cityscape. In this way, Portikus XXX addresses a broad audience while, at the same time, we continue to do what we’ve been doing in recent years: making exhibitions that stimulate, expand perspectives and ask questions.

Curated by Franz Hempel & Fabian Schöneich

18.07.–14.10.2017