At last, it’s here: the new exhibition at the Marburg Climbing Gym, created by the Steinmühle high school’s advanced art class. Since mid-December 2020, the class’s new drawings of climbing hands have been on display there. As early as 2018, art related to mountaineering from an elective course taught by Ines Vielhaben was exhibited here for the first time. The response and demand from climbers in the German Alpine Club (DAV) were so great that, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, a class once again created and designed several works specifically for the climbing gym.

“The unusually long formats are dictated by the Plexiglas panels embedded in the climbing walls,” reports Ines Vielhaben. The students have adapted their naturalistic drawings of grasping hands to this unusual format and, through their artistic snapshots of grasping hands, tell stories of adventures in the mountains, of strength, and of climbing techniques.

José Domingo, an employee at the climbing gym: “We’re so excited that people can finally see the photos now that the climbing gym has been closed for four months!”

A big round of applause for the artists Clara Köhler, Diba Sharifzahdeh, Talea Funk, Niklas Diedrich, Amy Wong, and Ines Vielhaben!

“The exhibition PEOPLE, DIVERSITY, FUTURE – SHOW YOUR FACE! RAISE YOUR VOICE!” was created as a tool for educational and public outreach so that the cultural diversity of the people in the university town of Marburg and the Marburg-Biedenkopf district becomes visible as a statement and a symbol against xenophobia and racism,” explains Thomas Gebauer in an interview. Visitors can get a glimpse into his work in the atrium of the Steinmühle.

People think and feel differently, have different values and norms, and do not share a uniform conception of happiness. And yet all people deserve the same respect, regardless of their background, religion, or skin color. Thirty-five of the 120 exhibits in the “People, Diversity, Future” exhibition are currently on display in the atrium of the Steinmühle. The answers to the question, “What is my greatest happiness?” are just as diverse.

With this work, Thomas Gebauer aims to encourage reflection on the pursuit of happiness as a collective need and the sociocultural foundation of human civilization. In the future as well, activities accompanying the exhibition and writing projects, for example, are intended to deepen and broaden the understanding “that we are one indivisible human family, in which all people, without exception, share human rights and bear joint responsibility for all life and for the future of the Earth,” according to his statement.

A dynamic impetus for reflection

Thomas Gebauer thus provides a dynamic impetus for reflection on human happiness. Happiness, a concept that often devolves into a cliché when put into words, can indeed be described precisely and individually—but this takes time. “During the two years of preparation for this exhibition, I waited a very long time and with great patience for some of the answers, and in doing so I learned that human happiness seems to be something that is found rather than sought, and that while it varies greatly depending on people’s life situations, it always revolves around a core understanding of happiness.” “Everything takes time” also applied to the numerous appointments Gebauer had to organize over the two-year production period in order to photograph the approximately 140 women, men, teenagers, and children. A photographic presentation of the exhibition even includes 140 exhibits.

“In a specially produced exhibition newsletter, I published not only photos of the people and their thoughts on happiness but also a logo designed specifically for the “People, Diversity, Future” exhibition, in which the sun (light/insight), a sail (moon/tool), and a ship (Earth/human family) are integrated in multicolored form into the words PEOPLE DIVERSITY FUTURE,” explains Gebauer.

Everyone defines happiness differently

For me, happiness is “…being healthy…” “…my family being well…” “…being able to drink an Äppler in my Weidenhausen…”. – Some answers come up more often, while others are unique. Responses to the question of personal happiness often revolve around peace or spending time with loved ones. But there are other responses as well: “I’m happiest when I’m not thinking about whether I’m happy.” Or even “…I’m happy when all the plastic disappears from the oceans.”

People, Diversity, Future – “Show Your Face! Raise Your Voice!” is a very ambitious exhibition project. In October 2017, the association “Vielfalt Marburg e.V.” was able to secure Thomas Gebauer to bring the project to life, and Gebauer ultimately completed and unveiled it in October 2019. The theme fits well into current debates, explains chairwoman Nadine Bernshausen. It is the mission of the association “Vielfalt Marburg e.V.” to further promote a general spirit of internationalism and mutual understanding among people, so that a vibrant utopia can continue to be fostered: Being different should not only be accepted, but can also be perceived as exciting and enriching.

A Tool Against Racism

According to Gebauer, dialogue and shifts in perspective—as cultural tools—along with mutual recognition and understanding among people, are important goals of communication. He himself experienced the exhibition’s development phase as a kind of journey of discovery into the values and ideas that are “essential and truly important” to all people on Earth. Gebauer plans to show the “Human Diversity, Future” exhibition for an initial period of five years as a tool against racism and xenophobia in general, and hopes, “… that, in light of the fascinating diversity of our human family, the fear of what initially seems foreign to us in other people can be overcome in favor of greater openness and curiosity toward people both near us and those from distant, foreign cultural spheres.”

“Thomas Gebauer did a great job with that,” commented Ines Vielhaben, an art teacher at Steinmühle. “There is a great deal of support for this topic at Steinmühle.” She set up the exhibition with the 10th-grade class and the advanced art course and explored the messages it conveyed. The 11th-grade class, led by teacher Stephan Kersten, discussed the topic of “happiness” in their ethics class—it was a perfect fit!

María Rámos, who represents the International Affairs department at Steinmühle, also believes the exhibition fits into the school’s philosophy: “It did a good job of capturing different personalities.” Both teachers agree: “This initiative is an asset to Steinmühle. It inspires people to reflect and reminds them of important values.”

Contact Thomas Gebauer: https://agent21-art-and-repair.de

Every year, the event called “Open Stage” demonstrates that Steinmühle is not only a successful school but also a breeding ground for talent. Here, students from all grade levels take the opportunity to showcase their cultural contributions—guided and supported by the music department and other teachers.

At the end of February, nearly 150 audience members gathered at the Forum to enjoy another entertaining evening. Naturally, the youngest high school students kicked things off. The 5th-grade language workshop, led by Kristina Sokoli, enchanted the audience with their well-rehearsed performance of “Step-Breath-Broomstroke” from Michael Ende’s *Momo*. The performers were Jana Farsch, Paul Fischer, Simon Glowacz, Annan Harnisch, Maximilian Schreyer, Summer Schulz, and Ida Sommer.

This performance was followed by Carlotta Meyer (6th grade) and Johanna Krausch (7th grade) on viola and violin. They successfully tackled pieces by Telemann and Aleksey Igudesmann. Social commentary was a must, and it was provided by Paul Fischer (Grade 5) with his anti-Lidl poem. A group of six students from the 5th-grade theater club, led by Melisande Lauginiger, also presented “Lammkeule,” a performance that made the audience smile and reflect. The cast included Sabine Auer, Emilia Berger, Philipp Dubinker, Ida Kraft, Karlson Obermeyer, and Louisa Röder.

The “4 Notenschlüssel,” featuring eighth-grader Nela Haeberle and her three fellow musicians, performed a high-level flute recital. The audience had never heard anything like it!

Felix Müller was a real surprise of the evening. Accompanied by Ulrike Wilmsmeyer on the piano, the tenth-grader—despite having a cold—performed Giuseppe Giordani’s song “Caro mio ben” in such a way that it gave the audience that famous “goosebumps” feeling. A graduate of a classical vocal training program, he regularly competes in various singing competitions.

The evening, hosted by Ulrike Wilmsmeyer, drew to a close with spirited song performances by Talea Funk (11th grade) and Evelyn Damer (12th grade), followed by a performance by Fynn Konnertz. The guitarist skillfully “played right through” a broken string—in the literal sense—before Tom Herfert on tenor saxophone and Frank Wemme on keyboard brought the successful evening to a close. Tom Herfert, too, once began where many lower-grade students first encounter the instrument: in the wind ensemble class. Matthäus Otte from Sound & Light was responsible for ensuring that the deserving participants remained in the spotlight throughout the evening.

(Angela Heinemann)