"Together" exhibition inspires creative school projects

Pupils from the Jean-Paul-Gymnasium discover photographic art.

Auf dem Foto sind junge Menschen und ein Mann zu sehen, die gemeinsam eine Fotoausstellung betrachten. — Foto (Stadt Hof): Kulturamtsleiter Peter Nürmberger führt die Klasse durch die Ausstellung

In the last week of June, class 10b of the Jean-Paul-Gymnasium in Hof went on a special school visit to the photo exhibition "Together" by Ute and Werner Mahler, which is currently on display in the foyer of the Freiheitshalle. Equipped with a questionnaire, the young people set off on a tour of discovery through the impressive exhibition of work by the renowned photographer couple.

Head of the cultural department Peter Nürmberger led the tour through the exhibition - with palpable enthusiasm and in-depth knowledge. Teacher Silke Sachs was impressed: "You can tell that photography is his passion; you can feel how motivated he is to give young people access to art."

The exhibition is divided into several thematic areas: Fashion photography from GDR times, the poetic-documentary series "Monalises of the Suburbs", works on the former inner-German border and the group of works "The Strange Days", in which the everyday is retold with a surprising view. The pupils immersed themselves in a world of images that interweaves past, present and personal perspective.

Peter Nürmberger also explained the development of the artist couple. Both grew up in the former GDR and only came to West German attention late - 25 years after reunification - with a major exhibition in Hamburg's Deichtorhallen. Their former work for the fashion magazine "Sibylle" is reflected in many of the exhibits - whereby the models today often come from the private sphere and the fashion is contrasted by empty landscapes: a field of tension between splendour and reduction.

Back in class, the class took up an idea that Peter Nürmberger had initiated in the exhibition: the series "Monalises of the Suburbs", in which the Mahlers travelled to the suburbs of metropolises such as Liverpool, Minsk, Reykjavik, Berlin and Florence and took pictures of young women in their everyday surroundings, inspired an AI-supported implementation with a courtyard as the setting. Within a short space of time, the corresponding prompts were used to create their own image ideas - and a lively, interdisciplinary approach to art.

Exhibition: "Together" by Ute and Werner Mahler

Location: Foyers of the Freiheitshalle Hof
Duration: 11 May - 26 October 2025
Admission is free.
Opening hours: Mon to Fri, 10:00 to 17:00, and by appointment. Additional opening times can be arranged, especially for groups/schools.
With the kind support of Sparkasse Hochfranken.

Please note the following changes:

The exhibition will be closed on 9 July 2025 due to the event. During the Hofer Volksfest (25 July to 1 August), the exhibition will be open from 10 am to 1 pm.