protect yourself at all times
13.07.2024
Group-Show
mit: Pepper Collucci, Anya Enot, Lars Fischer, Michael Günzer, Philipp Köstermenke, Anica Seidel, Frank Jimin Hopp, Sonja Yakovleva
Altes Waschhaus, Berlin
Group-Show
mit: Pepper Collucci, Anya Enot, Lars Fischer, Michael Günzer, Philipp Köstermenke, Anica Seidel, Frank Jimin Hopp, Sonja Yakovleva
Altes Waschhaus, Berlin
This year in Kreuzberg, rising temperatures herald an-
other sweltering summer and the buildup to the up-
coming event at Altes Waschhaus. The show is a cele-
bration of both martial and visual arts, spotlighting their
relationship and showcasing their protagonists in the
boxing ring. This notion is reflected in the show, with a
card brimming with talent from all corners of the globe.
The Altes Waschhaus summer blockbuster has arrived,
bringing all the star power you expect from the leaders
in combat sports. We have some fantastic fights lined up:
Setting the stage is one of Europe’s brightest heavy
weights. Undefeated contender Marta Vovk gets the
opportunity to show why she’s the future of the art
scene. Her artistic practice moves between autobio-
graphical pieces and pop-culture quotes with a socio-
political touch.
Looking to defeat any opponent is Frankfurt‘s
striking boxing sensation Sonja Yakovleva. After an im-
pressive debut, Yakovleva looks to build momentum
with her characteristic boxing style and her artistic
practice, which consists mainly of silhouettes dealing
with themes such as female empowerment, physicali-
ty, and social power structures.
It’s the homecoming of Altes Waschhaus cham-
pion Julius Bobke. In his work, he uses plastilin and
glitter to portray friendships, heartbreaks, and other
battles. In the ring, he uses determination and speed
to create his distinctive, rodent-like fight style, heavily
inspired by his Muay Thai upbringing. Bobke is putting
the title on the line in the gym that raised him.
Followed by another Bavarian battler aiming to
make history in his first shot at the title, Michael Gün-
zer. He is known for both his fight style rooted in his BJJ
background and his figurative paintings. Showing off
not only his black belt but also some distinctive paper
works, Günzer aims to swat any opponent like a fly.
Former middleweight champion at the Wasch-
haus Hall of Fame, Pepper Colluci, is looking for an
encore to a stellar career. The homegrown champion
shows off tricks inside and outside the ring – with a
punch as sharp as the linework of his black-and-white
drawings.
Next comes the hard-charging phatom Lars Fi-
scher. The painter tackles not only opponents in a fight
but also the topics of excessive consumption, autho-
rity, and apocalypse in his paintings. In Fischer’s work,
the line between utopia and dystopia is blurry. In his
fights, he leaves no room for uncertainty.
Welterweight striking sensation Philipp Köster-
menke makes his Waschhaus debut. His conceptual
sculptures perfectly align with his combat style, kee-
ping the spectator guessing before landing a perfectly
precise knockout punch in the end.
Coming up is Frank Jimin Hopp with his bright,
rough, and dynamic style. His ceramic sculptures, hi-
ding cartoon characters in flames, go hand in hand
with portraits of video game and comic characters. He
wants to settle the score in a fight to crown the world’s
best once and for all.
Following is another knockout artist, Anica Sei-
del. Known in her artistic practice for examining violen-
ce, she incorporates baseball bats, throwing stars, and
punching bags into her sculptures to address themes
like destruction, inequality, and power.
Next up is decorated Muay Thai finisher Anya
Enot, coming all the way from Mexico. Famous for her
unapologetic fighting style, the Siberian champion
shows some of the last paintings she made before mo-
ving Thailand to focus solely on her martial arts career.
For fighters and fans alike, arts is more than a sport – it’s
a religion. That unrivaled passion will be felt once again
on July 13th in the spotlight shadows of Berlin Kreuz-
berg. Get ready, and protect yourself at all times!
Text: Inga Krumme
