Chaos or order? Exhibition in the Dortmunder U invites you to marvel!

Chaos or order? Exhibition in the Dortmunder U invites you to marvel!

The upcoming exhibition “Fragile Equilibrium: Chaos in Focus” is presented by students from the Technical University of Dortmund and the Folkwang University of the Arts. It will take place from June 13th to July 6th, 2025 on the City Campus of the TU Dortmund in the Dortmunder U. This interdisciplinary cooperation is being realized under the leadership of Felix Dobbert and Prof. Jana Müller, who are intensively concerned with the question of what role chaos plays in creative and artistic practice. It is also about the cultural connotations of chaos and its perception.

The students examined the complexity of the topic in one semester. The central questions that guided them were: Where does chaos begin and where does it end? How is chaos experienced in different cultures? The results are presented in the form of photographs that deal with topics such as memories, childhood, inner emotional states, urban situations and political processes. This form of expression of chaos is not always recognizable at first glance and requires an intensive examination of the images.

Exhibition details and opening ceremony

The opening of the exhibition will take place on Friday, June 13, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. Entry is free. After the opening, the exhibition will remain accessible to visitors from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on selected days until 8 p.m. The finissage will take place on July 6, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. A special highlight of the exhibition is the extra shift on June 28th, which lasts from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. and requires tickets.

In addition to the photographic works, the organizers invite visitors to engage with artistic questions related to the topic of chaos. The interplay between order and chaos is viewed as a central area of ​​tension in the development of art. Artists can be perceived as “something” or “nothing” depending on the manifestation of their characteristics. In this exhibition, this area of ​​tension is artfully explored and reflected.

Interactive elements and events

The opening weekend will also be enriched by interactive events, including augmented reality experiences and a book salon with artist talks. There will also be a symposium that provides deeper insights into the students' research work. Additional interactive events are planned throughout the duration of the exhibition, particularly aimed at family days in the Dortmunder U.

The students' final theses not only offer an impressive insight into their artistic practice, but they also challenge visitors to reflect on their own perception. Just as chaos is often not immediately recognizable, direct engagement with the themes and emotions of the works will also be of great importance.

For further information on the exhibition “Fragile Equilibrium: Chaos in Focus”, those interested can visit the website Folkwang University of the Arts, Dortmund U and endoplast.de visit.