Deep in the far north, between the Kiel Canal and the vast landscapes of Schleswig-Holstein, stands a complex of massive industrial halls made of brick and steel. Where molten iron was once cast, artists from all over the world now gather. Here, on the grounds of the former Carlshütte in Büdelsdorf near Rendsburg, NordArt—one of Europe’s largest exhibitions of contemporary art—has been held since the late 1990s.
In early June, we had the opportunity to visit this year’s NordArt. The occasion was the participation of Javier León Pérez, whose works are currently on view at our gallery. He was selected for this year’s exhibition along with approximately 300 artists from around the world.
Even the moment you arrive on the grounds is impressive. Nestled among the historic industrial buildings is a sprawling sculpture park where monumental works engage in a fascinating dialogue with old trees, bodies of water, and the rugged architecture of the Carlshütte. Here, art and nature seem to be naturally intertwined.
Then you enter the halls.
A narrow corridor leads to the former production facilities of the Carlshütte. What unfolds beyond is breathtaking. Rooms with ceilings several meters high, old steel structures, cranes, brick walls, and relics of the area’s industrial past provide the backdrop for contemporary art from around the world. The site’s history remains visible and lends the artworks a special power.
The Carlshütte was once one of the most important iron and metal foundries in northern Germany. Machine parts, technical castings, stoves, and bathtubs were produced here. Today, those same halls are filled with works of art from a wide variety of cultural contexts. Few exhibition venues illustrate more impressively how transformation can be achieved. That seems to be precisely what this year’s program is all about.
Many of the works on display explore themes of memory and identity, social change, migration, nature, and the environment, as well as the transformations shaping our times. Artistic perspectives from Europe intersect with voices from Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and East Asia. The exhibition thus serves as a mirror of a world in flux.
The international diversity is particularly fascinating. In just a few hours, your mind can travel from Mongolia through the Baltic states to China, from Scandinavia to the Caucasus, and on to the Middle East. Rarely do you experience so directly how differently artists respond to the same questions of our time—and how similar some of their answers are.
NordArt does not see itself as an art fair and does not follow market mechanisms. Instead, it fosters an open dialogue between cultures, perspectives, and forms of artistic expression. Painting, sculpture, installation, photography, video art, and media art are presented on an equal footing. Some works make their impact felt in the vast halls, while others are presented in installed water basins, whose reflections create additional layers of meaning.
Taking part in a guided tour with several of the exhibiting artists was a special experience. The opportunity to explore the works directly from the perspective of their creators opens up new perspectives that often remain hidden during a typical visit to an exhibition. Behind every work lie personal stories, cultural experiences, and individual perspectives on the world.
Javier León Pérez’s works also fit impressively into this international context. His pieces held their own effortlessly amid the great diversity of the exhibited works and demonstrated once again how universal art can be when it springs from an authentic artistic vision.
There were numerous exciting works to discover, including Artists who already enjoy international recognition and whose works are represented in significant exhibition venues and collections. It is precisely this blend of established artists and new discoveries that constitutes the special appeal of NordArt.
Anyone interested in contemporary art should not miss this extraordinary exhibition.
NordArt is open until October. A visit is highly recommended.
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