From 6 October to 1 December 2024, the Kunstraum Gewerbepark-Süd in Hilden, North Rhine-Westphalia, is presenting the exhibition ‘Super, Helden!’ with works by the artists Fernando Sánchez Castillo, Sandra del Pilar, Gil Shachar, Myriam Quiel, Susanne Ristow, Razeea Lindner, Thomas Virnich, Felix Gephart, Thomas Baumgärtel, Dominik Hebestreit, Jan Schüler and others, as well as Mattel figures by Alfred Neul.
Image above: Illustration von Dominik Hebestreit inspiriert von Andru/Giordano DC Comics, 2024
Every era looks for its heroes, and some of them live for a long time. Numerous archetypes can be found in ancient mythology. Whether Heracles or Achilles, Orpheus or Perseus, their Old Testament colleagues Samson or David – who sent another proverbial superhero, the giant Goliath, into the dust with his sling – not to mention the dragon-blooded Siegfried, who was instrumentalised as a model hero like no other in German history – they all form the blueprint and canon for today’s superheroes.
US comic authors Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster ushered in their golden age in 1938 with the invention of Superman and, a little later, the dark Batman. From then on, the archetypal crime fighter with a secret identity and superhuman powers was in the world.
The exhibition ‘Super, heroes!’ aims to focus on the many facets of heroic images. But it is not just the showcase heroes endowed with supernatural abilities and dressed in dazzling costumes that take centre stage. The often overlooked anonymous everyday heroes, the broken, the failed, the anti-heroes are also presented – a borderline walk between personal heroes, dubious role models, heroes of propaganda and the icons of pop culture.
The exhibition opens on Sunday, 6 October 2024, at 11 am. After a welcoming address by Mayor Claus Pommer, art historian and cultural scientist Wolfgang Ullrich will give an introduction to the exhibition. Soprano Joséphine Pilars de Pilar and pianist Pedro do Bandolim will provide the musical backdrop.
Public conference accompanying the exhibition
On Friday, 4 October and Saturday, 5 October 2024, from 10:30 am to late afternoon, the Friends of the Institute of Art History at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf invite you to a public conference with numerous insightful lectures on the topic of ‘Heroic Images’ in the Kunstraum Gewerbepark-Süd, including ‘From Heroine to Whore and Back. Malinche in Mexico’ by German-Mexican artist and art historian Sandra del Pilar, ’Influencers as new heroes? The career of a social figure’ by Wolfgang Ullrich, ’Failing heroes. From ex-heroes made of marble to problematic heroes on film’ by art historian Klaus Honnef and ’Superheroines? Female positions in German-language comics’ by art historian Dr Sarah Hülsewig.
Program
Friday, 4 October 2024
10:30 am
Welcome: Sandra Abend
Introduction: Hans Körner
11:00 am Hans Körner
‘The Age of Bronze’ as a war memorial. Auguste Rodin’s groundless gestures
11:45 am Alexander Leinemann
Pablo Picasso – a collectively anchored hero of contemporary painting?
12:30 pm Lunch break
1:30 pm Klaus Honnef
Failing heroes. From the ex-hero in marble to the problematic hero on film
2:15 pm Susanne Ristow
Lonely heroes. Film icons of Italian-American cinema
3:00 pm Michael Ebert
The picture President
3:45 pm Coffee break
4:15 pm Dietrich Erben
The body of the politician
5:00 pm Manja Wilkens
Hero of Labour. Adolf Hennecke and his image
5:45 pm Josephine Pilars de Pilar (soprano)
& Pedro do Bandolim (pianist)
Saturday, 5 October 2024
10:30 am Andrea van Beek
The one who fights the dragon. St George in the Lower Rhine wood art
11:15 am Wolfgang Ullrich
Influencers as new heroes? The career of a social figure
12:00 pm Sandra Abend
Tank Man, the anonymous hero with the shopping bags
12:45 pm Lunch break
1:45 pm Lena Schüller
The art rescuers – art protection officers in the Second World War
2:30 pm Sandra Del Pilar
From heroine to whore and back. Malinche in Mexico
3:15 pm Sarah Hülsewig
Superheroines? Female positions in German-language comics
WHEN?
Opening: Sunday, 6 October 2024, 11 am
Exhibition dates: Sunday, 6 October – Sunday, 1 December 2024
Opening hours: Tuesday – Friday, 2 – 6 pm, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, 11 am – 4 pm
WHERE?
Kunstraum Gewerbepark-Süd
Hofstraße 64
40723 Hilden
COST?
Free admission
