“hands on nails – we are open”: A Discursive Salon
The idea for the project came from those nail studios which seem to have popped up on every street corner in the city. What is this everyday phenomenon all about? Who are the people working in this branch and the scenes that have evolved from it? What motivates them? Is nail design an art, a handicraft or a service? And what does all this have to do with the Bauhaus?
With its programme “hands on nails”, the Temporary Bauhaus-Archiv explored nail art through artistic, social and economic perspectives. Guided by the motto “we are open”, the participatory and discursive salon format provided a platform for exchange between practitioners, artists and visitors.
Short films, interventions and performances shed light on both the craft and the hype surrounding nail art, its precarious working conditions, and its emancipatory potential. A historical perspective drawn from the Bauhaus-Archiv collection revealed surprising connections to nail art. Visitors were invited to design their own nails at DIY stations, contribute new entries to the exhibition glossary, and browse a selection of publications and other materials offering deeper insights into the topic.
Through the live events “Context:Society”, “PlayingField:Body” and “StartingPoint:Exploration”, visitors were invited to participate actively and engage in collective reflection with others.
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For Further Reflection at GLANZ & KANTE
GLANZ & KANTE is a podcast dedicated to jewellery, objects worn on and around the body and practices of adornment. As a sparkling dialogue centred on the phenomenon of jewellery, the podcast offers insights into the many facets of objects worn on and around the body. In this episode, Magdalena Zagorski from the curatorial team speaks with Anne Sophie Ruth Schneider and Cathleen Kämpfe about “hands on nails”.
Listen to the Episode
