«art shapes spaces»

Art shapes spaces

Thirty-five years have passed since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of the two German states. During this time, factories, farms, and production facilities that once operated have closed, and neighboring residential buildings were left vacant, gradually falling into disrepair. A new generation of artists from East and West Germany started reimagining improvisation in empty rooms and on fallow land. With their different cultural backgrounds, creatives worldwide also contributed to further developing these approaches and creating new forms of expression. 

Initially used as a temporary solution, the spaces no longer served merely as a stopgap over time, but transformed into a core principle that encompasses creating innovative ways of being. The daily development and design of new spaces became central to the artistic identity. This led to a ‘technology of improvisation’ becoming a defining artistic practice of the 21st century.

Against this backdrop, the Openart Lausitz Biennale is emerging as a new hub for contemporary art in rural areas. This inaugural biennial event will run from July 30 to September 20, 2026, across the districts of Elbe-Elster, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Dahme-Spreewald, Spree-Neiße, and the independent city of Cottbus. With the slogan ‘Kunst formt Räume—art shapes spaces,’ the Biennale makes a clear connection to architecture, fostering artistic and critical exploration of the structural shifts in Brandenburg's Lausitz region.

Michaela van den Driesch, 2025


Project Initiators


Atelierhof Werenzhain e.V.

Maysun Kellow, Project Management

Michaela van den Driesch, Artistic Director