During Manifesta 16 Ruhr, curators and artists have been selected to transform vacant church buildings in ten cities across the Ruhr Area into spaces for gathering, exchange and collective practice. These artistic projects highlight the potential of the architectural and social spaces of the former churches and show how these sites can be revitalised through collective initiatives.
Olaf Metzel, invited by curators René Block and Leonie Herweg, presents a newly commissioned work, Café Bagdad, at the St. Gertrud church in Essen.
Café Bagdad begins with a close observation of the city. Olaf Metzel’s work is based on photographs taken along the route from Essen’s main train station, via Kettwiger and Viehofer Streets, to St. Gertrud. They capture the atmosphere of the streets, which are shaped by everyday life and constant change.
Storefronts, signs, posters, and architectural details come together to form a multifaceted urban landscape. The photographs were transferred onto aluminum and form a large wall relief that brings elements of the surrounding neighborhood into the church interior. Metzel is interested in what often goes unnoticed: “the random, the familiar, and the hidden… the structure of everyday life that is perceived unconsciously.” The work is located near the entrance and creates a connection between the interior and the exterior. It reflects the rhythms of the surrounding streets and invites visitors to take a closer look at the environments they navigate every day.
Courtesy of the artist.
