Völklingen Ironworks – Where History Inspires Art

TEXT: CORNELIA BRELOWSKI

The World Heritage Völklinger Hütte is the only fully preserved ironworks from the heyday of industrialisation, as well as a much-regarded venue for cultural events and exhibitions of all kinds.

Meanwhile, culture is joined by nature: the paradise that has emerged from the former “hell” of the coking plant now fascinates visitors with its diverse flora and fauna reclaiming parts of the site, much like urban art reclaims the streets. Numerous halls, open spaces and a maze of pipe systems offer a unique and fascinating world to discover, as well as presenting an inspiring backdrop for international exhibitions and art events.

Völklingen Ironworks – Where History Inspires Art

View of inclined ore lift. Photo: Günther Bayerl, Weltkulturerbe Völklinger Hütte

URBAN ART BIENNALE 2024

Running until November 11th, the Urban Art Biennale is one of the world’s largest exhibitions of this ‘anarchic’ form of art inspired by urban street culture. Departing from a conventional white cube aesthetic, the entire site of the Völklingen Ironworks is given over to a fruitful dialogue with an art form that has evolved from street art or graffiti. Established in 2011, the 2024 edition focuses on political works as well as participatory urban art projects.

THE TRUE SIZE OF AFRICA

From November 9th, 2024 running through to August 17th, 2025, the exhibition THE TRUE SIZE OF AFRICA tests approaches to the giant continent that break down both prejudices and stereotypes by means of cultural history and contemporary art – featuring a multitude of groundbreaking, international artists whose work relates to this continent and its diaspora.

Blower. Photo: Tom Gundelwein, Weltkulturerbe Völklinger Hütte

RÉMY MARKOWITSCH: We All (Except the Others)

Until September 28th 2025, visit the suspension monorail repair with the installation WE ALL (Except the Others) by Swiss artist Rémy Markowitsch. who illuminates and condenses key themes such as contamination of nature and culture, forced labour and more of the darker aspects around controversial industrial giant Hermann Röchling and his legacy.

X-RAY (9.11.2025 – 16.8.2026)

The discovery of X-rays was a scientific and technological sensation. At the time, it was the most spectacular result of an ongoing quest, pursued around 1900, to uncover that which remains invisible to the human eye. This is an idea that has continued to inspire artists to this day – the belief that individual (or, indeed, supra-individual) identity is only revealed beneath the surface. On show in the atmospheric Blower Hall, this fascinating exhibition presents a wide variety of X-ray systems, ranging from the Pedoscope shoe fitter to X-ray satellite technology, as well as an exploration of the creative uses of X-rays in art, advertising, fashion and cinema – Catwalk meets X-ray chapel. X-RAY is the first ever exhibition dedicated to the phenomenon of X-rays and the wide-ranging cultural significance of X-ray vision.

Don’t miss out!