May 22 to September 21, 2025
In May 2025, artist Olaf Nicolai will continue the series of synagogue projects in Stommeln
Since the early 1990s, Olaf Nicolai (born 1962 in Halle/Saale) has developed a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary projects that question elementary experiences of space, time, and physicality. His starting point can be a science fiction novel, a piece of classical music, a specific location, a literary or philosophical text. In his works, Nicolai often playfully explores how social and economic relationships are shaped and experienced through aesthetics.
For the Stommeln Synagogue, Nicolai has developed a site-specific performance inspired by a quote from the Talmud – “An uninterpreted dream is like an unread letter” (Berachot 55a). Based on the synagogue as a social architecture and place of gathering, Nicolai reflects on the importance of communication - of speaking with and to each other, of reading and discussing texts and interpreting language, which are central to this place. The quote in the title refers to this activity: reading, translation and transmission. What does it mean to read a letter? Nicolai's performance poses this question in a poetic way.
On ten days between May and September, a singer performs a specially conceived song in the synagogue. The voice and its potential as a carrier of information, as well as the interpretation of invisible gestures and sensual experiences, such as those evoked by singing or the voice, have already played an essential role in past performances conceived by Olaf Nicolai.
Olaf Nicolai's works and projects have been shown in numerous international solo exhibitions, such as at the Kunstmuseum Lichtenstein (2024), Keelung Museum of Art, Taiwan (2024), PLECNIK HOUSE Ljubljana (2022), Sigmund Freud Museum Vienna (2021), Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz (2020), Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt (2019), MUMA, Museum of Monash University, Melbourne (2019), Kunsthalle Wien (2018), Kunstmuseum St. Gallen (2018), Taxispalais Innsbruck (2017), Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen (2016). He has participated in DOCUMENTA 14 (2017), Venice Biennale (2015, 2005 and 2001), Berlin Biennale (2014 and 1998), Busan Biennale (2012), Thessaloniki Biennale (2011), Manifesta 7 (2008), the fourth Gwangju Biennale (Korea, 2002), Sydney Biennale (2002), “Être nature”, Fondation Cartier (Paris, 1998), Documenta X (Kassel, 1997), among others. The artist lives and works in Berlin and holds a professorship at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich.
Opening: May 22, 2025, 6 pm
Martinus-Haus, Venloer Straße 546, Pulheim-Stommeln
Performance following the opening, Synagoge, Hauptstr. 85a
Please register for the opening: 02238 808116 or kulturabteilung@pulheim.de.
Welcome by Frank Keppeler, Mayor of Pulheim
Greetings: Jasmina Merz, Head of Visual Arts at Kunststiftung NRW,
Luzia Kilias, Chairwoman of the Initiative for Contemporary Art and Music Pulheim
Introduction: Daniela Zyman, Curator and Artistic Director, TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary
Performances: Singers: Daniel Gloger, Pascal Zurek, Doves: 01075-19-341 (f), DV 1075 19 28 (m)
Further performances in the Stommeln Synagogue:
Sun. 25.5., 3 pm, Truike van der Poel
Sat. 14.6., 5 pm, Andreas Fischer
Sat. 28.6., 5 pm, Daniel Gloger
Sun. 29.6., 5 pm Daniel Gloger
Sun. 13.7., 3 pm Andreas Fischer
Sun 20.7., 3 pm Pascal Zurek
Sun. 31.8., 3 pm Truike van der Poel
Sun. 7.9., 3 pm, Noa Frenkel
Sun. 21.9., 3 pm, Noa Frenkel, Pascal Zurek
The performances will be recorded and published on an LP at the end of the exhibition.
The project by Olaf Nicolai is generously supported by:
Kunststiftung NRW
Kultur- und Umweltstiftung der Kreissparkasse Köln
Initiative zeitgenössische Kunst und Musik Pulheim e.V.
