A striking new art installation by Peter Kroh now adorns the exterior wall of the coworking space at the Altes Lager building on Nötten-Brüder-Wallstraße in Soest, Germany. The abstract work, featuring a complex network of black metal struts, has already sparked curiosity and diverse interpretations from passersby.
"What does the artist want to tell us with this?" This classic question from puzzled viewers of modern art is one that Kroh poses directly to his audience. The Soest-based artist and graduate designer has created an intricate lattice of black metal elements that some observers have compared to everything from a knitting pattern to a regional bus route map. "I wouldn't have thought of that myself," Kroh says with amusement, "but that's exactly how it should be – people should see something in it that I never had in mind. But of course, it still needs to be explained."
The mystery behind the artwork, titled "Changing Views," will be revealed on August 28th during the official inauguration ceremony. "Otherwise, nobody would come," Kroh jokes about keeping the meaning secret until then. However, he does offer some hints about the piece's deeper significance. The construction is designed to symbolize the 120-year history of the building on Nötten-Brüder-Wallstraße, which has transformed from its origins as an iron storage facility through several incarnations as nightclub venues to its current role as a modern coworking space.
"We want to bring the interior to the outside, and it shouldn't overwhelm the viewer – I like reduction," Kroh explains. "Not a single element is superfluous. Everything has its purpose, for example, why the elements are layered at different levels with distance from the wall." The artist emphasizes how light and shadow play crucial roles in the installation's visual impact, and points out specific details like why the central beam sits beneath the 'R' in the 'Altes Lager' lettering and features mirrored sides.
The project's commissioner is Mario Gorniok-Lindenstruth, who operates a design agency from the building while maintaining his main headquarters in his former hometown of Berlin. The space proved too large for his needs alone, making the coworking concept ideal. Gorniok-Lindenstruth's work sounds futuristic: he specializes in animated product films, motion branding, and digital experiences. Kroh's installation aims to capture this blend of cutting-edge technology housed within historic walls.
To demonstrate his digital expertise, Gorniok-Lindenstruth has created an innovative invitation card for the vernissage that appears unremarkable at first glance. However, when viewers install the Artivive app on their smartphones and point the camera at the card, Kroh's installation suddenly comes to life through animation on their screens. While the app is intended for use with the actual artwork, the duo is still working on adding this augmented reality digital layer to "Changing Views" itself.
"We're breaking new ground," explains Kroh, who plans to involve external collaborators in the project. The artist has designed the vernissage evening to be interactive, inviting visitors to actively participate in creating an additional artwork. This collaborative approach reflects the innovative spirit of both the building's current use and the artistic vision behind the installation.
The vernissage is scheduled for Thursday, August 28th, beginning at 6 PM. Due to space limitations, advance registration is required through www.alteslager.space/neues. If registrations exceed capacity, organizers may schedule an additional later event where Kroh will explain his work in detail. Additional information is available at www.kroh-design.de.
