Pinning down the in-between

For some, it is the daily commute to work or a spot to relax by Lake Werder; for breweries and factories, it has for centuries been a hub for the production, delivery and shipment of goods; for the plane trees and birds, it is a contested habitat – the urban space along the left bank of the Weser is characterised by many different presences. The riverbank is currently undergoing a phase of transition. Due to rising water levels and new flood defence requirements, the stretch between Piepe and Stephanibrücke is set to undergo fundamental changes in the coming years. The 136 imposing plane trees, which help regulate the climate, are also under scrutiny; whether they will be completely felled as part of these construction works or whether there are options for their preservation is the subject of ongoing political debates and petitions.

Before the redevelopment work begins in 2028, the GAK aims to “[locate the in-between]” and is inviting participants to an artistic site visit between the Stephanibrücke and the Wilhelm-Kaisen-Brücke from 11 to 13 September 2026. Seven artists, including four HfK graduates, will comment on and mark the site with temporary sculptures, paintings, photographs and sound works. They will focus attention on what is already (and still) there, explore the nature of the transition itself, or imagine future scenarios. Whilst some of the works will be on display throughout the weekend, others will appear only briefly, in the form of walks, performances and interventions. The current dates can be found here.

The participating HfK Bremen graduates are:

Eghbal Joudi. He completed his studies in 2026 as a master’s student under Natascha Sadr Haghighian. For ‘[Locating the In-Between]’, his painting practice explores temporality, the disappearance and superimposition of (media) images. On the stones of the Weser riverbank, the water shapes his painting. Depending on the tide, different sections of the image become visible; some fade away, whilst other details remain intact.

In a sound piece and a series of photographs, Angela Lieber (who completed her studies as a master’s student under Prof. Ingo Vetter in 2023) intertwines the transformation of the site with processes of physical change. Lieber regularly works with text, sound and performance, amongst other media, to explore affective states such as memory, longing and desire.

Bubu Mosiashvili completed his Master’s degree under Natascha Sadr Haghighian in 2026. His sculptures for ‘[Locating the In-Between]’ are reminiscent of information boards in botanical gardens. They refer to the giant hogweed that has taken root along the riverbank. In Germany, these are classified as invasive plant species. Mosiashvili explores their history as colonial botanical ornamental plants and their present-day status as criminalised neophytes – in an environment shaped by colonial history.

Julija Paškevičiūtė completed her Master’s degree under Natascha Sadr Haghighian in 2020. She creates landscape-like installations that explore temporary community and mutual appreciation for ‘[Locating the In-Between]’. In the immediate vicinity of the local breweries, she shapes small objects from spent grain, a by-product of beer production, and, through two participatory activities, invites people to reflect together on material transformation and sustainability.

Whilst the actual construction and design projects along the city route must adhere to functional requirements and practical constraints, ‘[Locating the In-Between]’ operates at the design stage: through model-like formats and the temporary presence of objects, bodies and images. In the design phase, it is possible to think beyond what is actually feasible, in order to sharpen our focus on public space and, building on this, to consider options for how we, as residents, can (re)claim it.

Friday 11 September
7:00 p.m. Opening
7:15 p.m. Walk with Felisha Carénage

Saturday 12 September
2:00 p.m. Caring for … with Julija Paškevičiūtė
3:00 p.m. Performance by Zhenru Liang

Sunday 13 September
1:00 p.m. Caring for … with Julija Paškevičiūtė
2:00 p.m. Performance by Zhenru Liang
5:00 p.m. Group walk

Curated by Maxie Kiwitter (GAK Bremen)