Thomas Behling

Thomas Behling: "Ohne Öl kein Plexiglas" – "No oil, no plexiglass", 2022, Acrylic paint, iridescent pigments, hardboard, plexiglass, frame, 61 x 52 cm

"NACH DER NATUR einskommafünf" – "AFTER NATURE one point five"

‘After nature’ – since the Renaissance, this term has been used in art history to describe the direct observation of reality. Drawing and painting after nature meant capturing the visible world with the greatest possible accuracy, studying forms, proportions and atmospheres. Nature was regarded as the standard and reference point against which artistic skill and perception had to be trained.
But in the course of modernism, this aspiration began to shift. Artists no longer perceived landscape merely as an image to be reproduced, but increasingly as a projection surface and space for transformation. Landscape became a medium of memory, emotion and inner experience. The ‘after’ in the term thus takes on a second meaning within the exhibition: no longer mere ‘tracing,’ but a step beyond – beyond pure observation, into a new level of interpretation and imagination.
The exhibition ‘After Nature ONE’ is now followed by ‘After Nature ONE POINT FIVE.’

artists: Thomas Behling, Stefanie Bühler, Alfred Ehrhardt, Kaisu Koivisto, Ilka Raupach, Ralf Tekaat, Sencer Vardarman und Marcelina Wellmer

13.02.2026–30.05.2026

Artist talk on Thursday, 7 May 2026, 6 p.m. with Thomas Behling, Ilka Raupach and Ralf Tekaat, moderated by Oliver Möst

Basement Berlin 
Access to Basement Berlin via the stairs at the globe fountain
Tauentzienstr. 9-12, 10789 Berlin, Germany

Barrier-free access is possible via the lift in the Europa Center Berlin.
In the basement, please take the exit towards Breitscheidplatz.

Open:
Wednesday–Saturday from 12 noon to 7 p.m.
The Basement is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Free admission

Thomas Behling: "Armes deutsches Würstchen soll weniger Regenwald essen!" – "Poor German sausage should eat less rainforest!", 2022, 140 x 90 cm

"TANDEM DANZIG-BREMEN" 50 years of town twinning

The town twinning between Bremen and Gdańsk is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Since 2004, the Bremen Art Scholarship has enabled artists from Bremen’s twin towns to spend time in the Hanseatic city in order to promote artistic exchange and international networking. For the exhibition “Tandem Gdańsk-Bremen”, former Gdańsk scholarship holders have selected artists from Bremen with whom they wish to exhibit jointly. The resulting tandems will first showcase their work in Bremen and then in Gdańsk at the end of the year. The focus is on dialogue: a creative encounter that creates and strengthens connections – symbolic of the shared goal of contributing to international understanding through art.

The exhibition will be on display from 30 April to 5 June 2026

Haus der Bürgerschaft, 2nd floor
Am Markt 20
28195 Bremen
Germany
Information regarding your visit to the Haus der Bürgerschaft:
7 Please note that you must leave your coats at the cloakroom. The same applies to rucksacks and other bags larger
than A4 size. A limited number of lockers are available.
†Our events are free of charge.

Opening hours for exhibitions
Monday, 10 am–8 pm. Last admission at 7.30 pm
Tuesday–Friday, 10 am–6 pm, last admission at 5.30 pm
1 May closed (Labour Day)
7 May closed from 3 pm
14 and 15 May closed (Ascension Day)
19–21 May closed (plenary sessions)
25 May closed (Whit Monday)
27 May closed from 2 pm

Thomas Behling: "Don't look back!" (detail), 2017, 141 x 166 x 43 cm

"It's A Balance Trick" – Contemporary Art between Equilibrium and Instability

The exhibition “It’s A Balance Trick” explores the fragile moment of equilibrium through a multidisciplinary approach. The act of balancing is examined across a broad artistic spectrum from social, physical and ecological perspectives, and is reflected in the fluid exhibition concept: Whilst some elements remain static, others gradually shift their position, extend into the urban space or are only made complete through the participation of the audience. 

Although the still moment of equilibrium is a symbol of tranquillity, it is based on the constant balancing of various forces. Sometimes equilibrium is achieved almost effortlessly; at other times, it is the result of coordination and dialogue. In a democratic society in particular, balance is regarded as an ideal. The organic approach of “It’s A Balance Trick” mimics this balancing act; it remains in motion, evolves, weighs up different forces and constantly creates new moments of equilibrium and coexistence.

The exhibition’s range of media – from installation and performance to painting – is complemented by participatory elements and accompanied by an extensive programme of workshops. The programme is an essential part of the exhibition and allows visitors to experience moments of instability, but also of balance, through writing, dancing, painting, planting or discussing.

Artists:
Thomas Behling, Anna Borgman, Wiebke Elzel, Catherine Rose Evans, Simon Faithfull, Tom Früchtl, Ya Wen Fu, Noa Heyne, Kennedy & Swan, Csilla Klenyánszki, Nadja Verena Marcin, Gabi Schillig, Natalia Stachon, Morten Straede, Sophia Pompéry 

Opening on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 at 6 pm
Exhibition from 28 May to 13 September 2026

Accompanying programme
Detailed information on the events can be found on the Kommunale Galerie website. Some events require advance registration.

Sunday, 31 May 2026, 3 pm to 5 pm
WORKSHOP – Migration and Wahlheymat (in English)

Saturday, 6 June 2026, 3 pm to 7 pm
WORKSHOP – #SOPHYGRAY

Saturday, 13 June 2026, 12 noon to 2 pm
Workshop – The Dance of Falling

Wednesday, 24 June 2026, 5.30 pm
Conversational tour with the exhibition’s curators and artists

Saturday, 27 June 2026, 11 am to 4 pm
Workshop – Courage Muscle Workshop

Thursday, 2 July 2026, 6 pm
CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE

Wednesday, 8 July 2026, 5 pm to 8 pm
Walk – Walk and Talk on forests and the Süntel beech

Tuesday to Thursday, 14–16 July 2026, 10 am to 1 pm
Summer Holiday Workshop – Wobbly Worlds

Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 5.30 pm
Interactive guided tour with the exhibition’s curators and artists

Sunday, 13 September, 3 pm to 5 pm
Closing event

Kommunale Galerie Berlin
Hohenzollerndamm 176
10713 Berlin
Germany

Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 6 pm
Wednesday, 10 am to 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 7 pm

Free admission

 

Auf Grund der COVID-19-Pandemie sind die anstehenden Ausstellungen im Kulturpalast Wedding international (Berlin), Kunstverein Friedberg und in der Galerie Eulenspiegel (Basel) abgesagt bzw. verschoben.
Allerdings ist zu erwarten, dass die Quarantänemaßnahmen für längere Zeit verhängt werden, als bis jetzt angekündigt.


Ohne die COVID-19-Pandemie auch nur im Geringsten verharmlosen zu wollen, entsteht der Eindruck, dass diese Pandemie als eine weit größere Bedrohung für die Menschheit wahrgenommen wird, als die Zerstörung unserer aller Lebensgrundlage: unseres Planeten. Denn nicht einmal der akut drohende Klimakollaps führte bisher zu auch nur annähern so drastischen Maßnahmen. In sofern erstaunt mich, welche Maßnahmen jetzt überraschend möglich sind, und hoffe sehr, dass der Kampf gegen viel größere Probleme bald mit mindestens genauso großer Ernsthaftigkeit geführt wird.Die Ausstellung zeigt 75 aktuelle Zeichnungen von internationalen und lokalen Künstlerinnen und Künstlern. Sie werden anonym sowie in Buchformaten zwischen A3 und A5 und in Gruppen zu je 25 Zeichnungen pro Monat präsentiert. Die Mehrzahl der Werke wurde den Beständen des Kunstprojekts “Anonyme Zeichner” der Berliner Künstlerin Anke Becker entliehen. Seit 2006 lädt Becker in öffentlichen Aufrufen ihre Kollegenschaft zur Weitergabe neuer Arbeiten auf. Aus diesen arrangiert sie Verkaufsinstallationen ohne Hierarchien, in denen die üblichen Regeln des Kunstmarkts ausgehebelt und ad absurdum geführt werden.

Die Ausstellung zeigt 75 aktuelle Zeichnungen von internationalen und lokalen Künstlerinnen und Künstlern. Sie werden anonym sowie in Buchformaten zwischen A3 und A5 und in Gruppen zu je 25 Zeichnungen pro Monat präsentiert. Die Mehrzahl der Werke wurde den Beständen des Kunstprojekts “Anonyme Zeichner” der Berliner Künstlerin Anke Becker entliehen. Seit 2006 lädt Becker in öffentlichen Aufrufen ihre Kollegenschaft zur Weitergabe neuer Arbeiten auf. Aus diesen arrangiert sie Verkaufsinstallationen ohne Hierarchien, in denen die üblichen Regeln des Kunstmarkts ausgehebelt und ad absurdum geführt werden.