Corina Gertz and Hannah Maria Schmutterer explore the themes of clothing, cultural identity, and memory. The opening reception will take place on October 31st.
The exhibition “THREADS OF LIFE. Corina Gertz & Hannah Maria Schmutterer” will be on display at the TU Darmstadt Art Forum from November 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027. The two artists explore clothing as an expression of identity, origin, and social belonging through photography, textile works, and paintings. The opening will take place on Saturday, October 31, at 6 p.m.
The exhibition is part of the program of World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026, which has the motto "Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life". It is curated by Julia Reichelt, head of the art forum at TU Darmstadt.
THREADS OF LIFE: Clothing tells stories of origin and identity
Photographer Corina Gertz presents works from her ongoing series "The Averted Portrait." For this series, she photographs women worldwide in traditional clothing, exclusively from behind. Their faces remain hidden, while the fabrics, patterns, and handcrafted details take center stage.
The garments tell stories of cultural traditions, social standing, and personal origins. Gertz explores how clothing makes belonging visible and can simultaneously be an expression of cultural diversity.
Hannah Maria Schmutterer explores these questions through textile works, painting, poetry, and performance. Among other things, she uses recycled traditional costumes, which she sews, unpicks, and reassembles. In doing so, she investigates how notions of femininity are shaped by fairy tales, myths, and popular culture.
Schmutterer is currently pursuing her doctorate at TU Darmstadt in the field of fashion and aesthetics. Her artistic research focuses on clothing as a vehicle for memories and social attributions.
Exhibition combines art and democratic values
With “THREADS OF LIFE”, the Kunstforum addresses questions of diversity, visibility, and cultural identity. Both artists explore, in different ways, the stories that clothing preserves and how societal perceptions can be questioned through artistic design.
The exhibition will be accompanied by an interdisciplinary program of events. Planned activities include a discussion with the artists, a performance by Hannah Maria Schmutterer, and further events in the "Science & Art Talks" series.
www.tu-darmstadt.de/kunstforum
(DARMSTADT – RED/PM/Julia Reichelt)
Featured image: KE 10 from the series "The Averted Portrait". © Corina Gertz, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2026
Corina Gertz, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2026
Featured image: CHN 05 from the series "The Averted Portrait". © Corina Gertz, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2026
Featured image: Dancing Girls from the series "The Shell of the Fairy Tale Part II". © Hannah Maria Schmutterer. Photo: Sarah Berger, 2024
