Balanceakt II
Place: Franckesche Stiftungen, Halle (Saale), Germany
Date: 2018-2019
Material: Mineral facade paint
Collaboration: Philipp Eichhorn, Hendryk von Busse
Assistance: Alexander Dümke, Alexander Staiger, Frieder Bader, Hanna Müller-Kaempffer, Joav Scholz, Kyrill Hirner, Marten Ernst, Martin Krauth, Max Rademacher, Michael Schulze, Nancy Röschter, Philipp Hurst, Philipp Kienast, Robert Czolkoß, Sebastian Boo Borkert, Stefan Retzlaff, Tillmann Ziola
Balanceakt (2018–2019) was a two-year mural project in Halle’s Voßstraße, covering four 11-story socialist blocks. The murals reflect the contrasts of the neighborhood, where prefabricated buildings meet historic houses and busy streets intersect with narrow alleys. Residents participated actively: at block parties, they recreated constellations of figures that were photographed and integrated into the facade designs. Today, locals recognize themselves in the artwork, connecting with their neighborhood and its history through the murals’ imagery.
The Balancing Act
In Halle, the medieval jester Till Eulenspiegel is said to have stretched a rope between two houses and challenged spectators with a trick: he attached a stick to all their left shoes, then cut the rope, sending people tumbling over each other in search of their shoes. This local tale inspired the design of this wall.
