In the small village of Elend in the Harz Mountains of Saxony-Anhalt, artist Jochen Tiemann, who goes by the artistic name Bafuß, has created what may be one of Germany's smallest walkable art museums. The unique gallery is housed entirely within a converted trailer measuring just two square meters, with its doors remaining open almost constantly to welcome visitors.
Tiemann operates this miniature museum as a roadside tourist attraction, drawing curious travelers, hikers, and families with children who stumble upon this unexpected cultural gem. Many visitors express delight at discovering the tiny venue, according to the artist, who doesn't keep formal visitor counts but notes the steady stream of people who stop by to explore his compact exhibition space.
Currently, the museum showcases an exhibition titled "Buntes Elend" (Colorful Misery), featuring three large-format colorful works based on sketches from the surrounding area. Smaller paintings hang on the trailer's door, maximizing the limited display space. Despite the museum's diminutive size, Tiemann has managed to incorporate a museum shop outside the trailer, complete with an honor system cash box for purchases.
The artist emphasizes his versatility and plans to regularly rotate exhibitions in the space. His artistic repertoire includes black-and-white paintings and drawings, detailed hidden picture puzzles known as "Wimmelbilder," and comic illustrations. This diversity ensures that return visitors will encounter fresh artwork during subsequent visits.
Elend, where the museum is located, serves as a district of the city of Oberharz am Brocken, positioned close to the Lower Saxony border. The village is already known for hosting Germany's smallest wooden church, making Tiemann's micro-museum another noteworthy attraction in this community of miniature landmarks.
Similar tiny museums exist elsewhere in Germany, demonstrating a growing trend toward unconventional exhibition spaces. In the Eifel region village of Welchenhausen in Rhineland-Palatinate, creators transformed a bus stop shelter into the "wArtehalle." Meanwhile, in Glauchau, Saxony, exhibitions take place in a former military guardhouse measuring just 0.8 by 0.8 meters, proving that artistic expression can thrive regardless of spatial constraints.
