{"id":15244,"date":"2026-01-31T18:14:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T17:14:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hohlweg.de\/ausstellung\/unscheinbare-welten\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T20:54:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T18:54:03","slug":"unapparent-worlds","status":"publish","type":"hw_exhibition","link":"https:\/\/hohlweg.de\/en\/ausstellung\/unapparent-worlds\/","title":{"rendered":"[UN]Apparent worlds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The museum at the Bad Arolsen Royal Palace<\/a> provides an exceptionally festive setting for the tiniest fragments of our everyday lives. It\u2019s a perfect fit! Who says that only the royal legacy is worth preserving, marveling at, and admiring? My (vegan) insect worlds and the tiny bird paradises captivate with their sheer vitality and diversity. These are the prospects we need for a future worth living: Hope lies in the smallest details! I told you so! <\/p>\n\n

\"Entrance
Museum in Arolsen Castle <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Countless finds are currently being brought together in the Bad Arolsen Museum <\/a>to form new habitats. Insectology is blossoming here, so to speak. Things are not always what they seem at first glance. However, anyone who thinks that a typewriter was involved in the creation of this exhibit has typed correctly. This work is one of many others that now reside in Bad Arolsen. Fits, wobbles and has air! <\/p>\n\n

\"Collage
Insect collection without insects<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Arolsen Residential Palace<\/a> breathes history: centuries-old creaking steps, long galleries, paneled walls, historic rooms that have certainly seen a lot.<\/p>\n\n

Now, fragile bird creatures and bizarre insects have taken up residence in the stately halls.<\/p>\n\n

\"View
Showroom lower floor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

The accompanying text panels not only shed light on the individual aspects of my work related to perception, change, and values; the enlargements also make it easier to engage with these miniature works. Thanks to a sophisticated technique that involves layering multiple macro photographs on top of one another, the striking photos on the panels lose none of their brilliance. And you can see for yourself whether you\u2019ve interpreted them correctly. Unlike usual: Please feel free to get up close to the originals! <\/p>\n\n

At first glance, some of the works are reminiscent of scientific collections, because:<\/h3>\n\n

Collecting, measuring, organizing, preparing, exhibiting – these were the central activities of scientific research until well into the 20th century. For a long time, environmental conditions and behavioral patterns played no role whatsoever. Essential environmental conditions and species-specific behavior were completely neglected. <\/p>\n\n

In my works, I elevate the principles of incoherence and arbitrariness to an art form. The highly individual and random compilation of everyday found objects opens up new perspectives and establishes a radically new order. Every detail, no matter how small, is declared indispensable here. <\/p>\n\n

Insect or non-insect? That is the question with some of the exhibits. <\/p>\n\n

How do we perceive our world?<\/h3>\n\n

How can an object gain a presence in our consciousness and have a deeper impact?<\/p>\n\n

In the end, it’s all a question of observation. The value of any object is closely linked to our perception. <\/p>\n\n

It is only through our attention that things come to life and unfold their magic.<\/p>\n\n

\"Visitors
My workplace with materials and work utensils in the exhibition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

My workplace can also be found in the exhibition – here is the display case with work utensils from my studio surrounded by participants in one of my guided tours. I have brought some materials with me to show how the works were created. <\/p>\n\n

\"Guided
Guided tour of the castle through the [UN]apparent worlds<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

The tours are simply great fun. It was another entertaining hour with everyone. Thank you to all the visitors! <\/p>\n\n

Before the hanging, I had slight doubts as to how my small-scale works would hold their own in the baroque halls and galleries. Like countless splashes of color, they could get lost on the huge walls, couldn’t they? <\/p>\n\n

On the contrary! The 40 or so exhibits shine here in a wonderful contrast that reveals new perspectives. <\/p>\n\n

I couldn’t imagine a more worthy setting – glitz and glamor for the smallest insignificances of our everyday world. Here they shine with all their – sometimes somewhat morbid – charm. <\/p>\n\n

From the small scenes measuring 5 x 5 cm to the large-format works, which at first glance may look like old scientific collections – each exhibit has found its place and invites you to take a closer look.<\/p>\n\n

The exhibition has already been visited by quite a few school classes from the Bad Arolsen area. It makes me incredibly happy when children, in particular, leave inspired to discover something exciting even in the tiniest remnants. <\/p>\n\n

Once again, it was a tremendous pleasure for me to create more fantastic creatures together with enthusiastic third-graders. I\u2019ve seen this in every group so far: Truly every child finds their very own little treasure in the seemingly ordinary pieces I provide for their work. <\/p>\n\n

After viewing the exhibition, they all worked diligently and in great depth. At the end, each child proudly took their own work home with them. <\/p>\n\n

\"Results
An exciting insect gallery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Fortunately, setting up the exhibition was not solely in my hands – with a project of this size, I would probably still be screwing and sorting today. The preparations together with the museum management and the team were all the more fun. A big thank you also to all the other helpers – it definitely wouldn’t have worked so smoothly without you. I would especially like to thank the director of the Bad Pyrmont Castle Museum<\/a>, art historian Melanie Mehring, for her friendly and competent support at the opening. <\/p>\n\n

Incidentally, the cabinet for metamorphosis was particularly in need of helping hands. The expansive cocoon remains mysterious from the outside – simply enter and let the transformation happen. Who knows, maybe you’ll come out a little transformed… <\/p>\n\n

I don’t want to anticipate everything. Because camouflage is also an important principle in nature. And not every step in the course of a metamorphosis is “pretty” <\/p>\n\n

\"The
The walk-in cocoon – only inconspicuous from the outside<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

The box likes to pose riddles. All show and no substance? Here, it\u2019s actually the other way around. That\u2019s all I\u2019m going to say \ud83d\ude42 <\/p>\n\n

The photos in the room show some greatly enlarged original butterfly pupae (cocoons) – each one unique with impressive and almost artistic details. It is only in these macro shots that their bizarre beauty becomes visible. <\/p>\n\n

The walk-in cocoon is an invitation to change. The metamorphosis as a model is therefore also part of the exhibition. Discover jars with remnants of real cocoons in the display cases. These inconspicuous structures were once the protective space for a breathtaking metamorphosis. Now they are empty shells. Even the beautiful butterflies that hatched from them have most likely already turned to dust. Generations of them have already come and gone. <\/p>\n\n

\"Display
The original cocoons can also be discovered in the exhibition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Some of these finds serve as subjects for impressive macro photographs. Even the tiniest, most fragile remnants are striking, with complex structures that are only revealed when you zoom in. My sincere thanks to photographer Manfred Hohlweg for this photo installation .<\/a> <\/p>\n\n

\"Guided
The macro shots in addition to the walk-in cocoon <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

As always, I really enjoyed the multiple guided tours of the exhibition. The conversations and exchanges are part of my work and each time they provide welcome new inspiration. Hopefully not just for me. <\/p>\n\n

Many thanks for the great interest<\/p>\n\n

Magdalena Hohlweg<\/p>\n\n

External references and press coverage of the exhibition:<\/h3>\n\n