Gönül Sen-Menzel: “art bridge” in Memory of the Artist

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Lindenthal. Audrey Hepburn, old black-and-white photographs of a promenade with a palm tree, delicate glass figurines or hands reaching out of stone toward the viewer: 15 artists associate very different things with the word “unforgettable”.

The exhibition was given its theme for a sad reason, however. “Because of Gönül Sen-Menzel, who has sadly passed away,” explained curator Nuray Turan. She had exhibited together with the late artist several times, and now the ninth “art bridge” exhibition is being held in memory of Gönül Sen-Menzel. She is one of the 15 artists whose works are on display.

Kerstin von Klein is taking part in the international show with her sculptures for the first time. “I admit I have never exhibited together with so many Turkish artists,” she said. “The works are very different, and the different perspectives are inspiring.” Nuray Turan’s perspective is a very personal one, at least in one object: her old school atlas. “My sister turned up with it recently and said: look what I found,” Turan recounted. Anyone who opens the old schoolbook finds the portrait of a young woman on the very first page. “I was interested in portraits of women early on. That was in 1969,” said Turan.

With this work, Nuray Turan won over her host. Roland Schüler, the deputy district mayor, opened the exhibition together with Turan and the Turkish Consul General in Cologne, Hüseyin Emre Engin: “As you may know, I am a geography teacher,” Schüler said, explaining his enthusiasm for the old atlas.

The Consul General also attached importance to the show. “Solid bridges between different cultures can be built with art, too,” Engin emphasized. Nuray Turan, however, added a drop of bitterness to the general joy: “Unfortunately, several artists had to cancel before the exhibition, due to illness, for example. That is why only artists from Germany and Turkey are represented at this ‘art bridge’.”

Alongside Turan, von Klein and Sen-Menzel, the participating artists are Angelika Schneeberger, Aydin Muskara, Berna Özdemir, Bernd Müller, Cornelia Rohde, Elif Onaran, Elif Çimen, Filiz Süren-Michels, Funda Tarakçioglu, Hildegard von Scherer, Pinar Ervardar and Sibel Kasapolu.

The exhibition at the Kunsthalle Lindenthal, Aachener Straße 220, runs until November 2. It closes with an art market that will also show works from earlier “art bridge” exhibitions. Opening hours: Tuesdays to Fridays 3 to 6 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; during the art market from October 31 to November 2, daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Original caption: Tiffany at the Kunsthalle: the portrait of Audrey Hepburn is surely one of the “unforgettable” exhibits.