On the last weekend of June 2025, Neukölln once again transformed into a creative hub of Berlin during the 48 Hours Neukölln festival, held in 2025 under the theme “What the Fact.” This theme encouraged artists to critically question societal facts and assumed truths, to reflect on social realities, and to explore the boundaries between facts, fiction, and interpretation.
“What the Fact” aims not just to present facts but to spark dialogue: How do facts arise? Which truths remain hidden? And how do social narratives shape our understanding of reality? Against the backdrop of politics, economics, social issues, and culture, these questions were illuminated through a variety of artistic approaches.
In this context, I had the opportunity to exhibit my painting “Milieutausch” at the Neukölln Arcaden together with the artist group Artyshox, with whom I engaged in inspiring exchanges about the social themes of the festival.
My painting depicts two protagonists in a surreal moment of role reversal: In the lower left, a well-dressed man from the upper class sits on the ground with a well-filled money bowl in front of him an allusion to the classic image of a beggar. In the upper right is an older woman, whose simple clothing and plastic bag indicate her precarious financial situation. Surprisingly, she gives the man a coin as she passes by.
This scene is disconcerting, it breaks our usual perception of social roles and challenges the viewer to look closer. The social positions of the figures are reversed: The man, who actually has no reason to beg, appears as the needy one, while the woman, who truly has little, becomes the giver.
Behind this visual inversion lies a deeper metaphor: The man symbolizes the wealthy elite who become richer through inactivity or merely by increasing their assets (e.g., capital investments). The woman represents those who, despite hard work and low income, continue to grow poorer. The painting opens our eyes to a redistribution from the bottom up, a social “fact” that is often overlooked or suppressed.
In the spirit of “What the Fact,” “Milieutausch” invites us to question the apparent truths about social justice, wealth, and poverty. It encourages a critical look at the mechanisms behind social inequality and to reinterpret the seemingly fixed facts.
On Thursday, a press conference was held as part of the festival kickoff, where I was interviewed about the meaning of my painting and its relevance to the festival theme. This gave me the opportunity to share my perspective and deepen the conversation around the social realities portrayed in my work.
The exhibition at Neukölln Arcaden, right in the lively and diverse district of Neukölln, was a fitting place for this reflection. Together with the works of Artyshox, a fascinating network of artistic positions emerged that took visitors on a journey through social and political questions.
48 Hours Neukölln once again demonstrated how art can act as a catalyst for social debate, by scrutinizing facts, creating irritation, and opening new perspectives.
I am very pleased to have been part of this important festival with “Milieutausch” and hope my work inspires viewers to reflect on the often hidden connections within our society.
Further information:
Berliner Morgenpost: Die Highlights des Kunstfestivals „48 Stunden Neukölln“