Detail of: Satenik Ghulijanyan, Recovered Dreams, 2024
Exhibition Walkthrough with Juror Barbara Maahs
Thu, Feb 12, 2026, 6:00 PM
Admission is free.
The annual Members’ Exhibition of the Association of Visual Artists Hamburg has selected 30 artistic positions from 145 submissions, following review by a five-member expert jury. system Error Human? presents works that explore fragility, incompleteness, and contradiction. These pieces, situated between analog materials and digital code, between earth, fabric, metal, and pixels, investigate themes of control, loss, and renewal.
The exhibition showcases disruptions as transitions, fissures as openings, and irritations as starting points for new forms of interaction, ultimately serving as a compelling argument for the productive power of error-and for art as a space where orientation is continually redefined.
barbara Maahs, a member of this yearS jury, will offer her viewpoint on the selected works during an interactive tour. I’ve found that these kinds of artist talks are invaluable for understanding the nuances behind the creative process.
Participating Artists: Sevil Amini, Christian M. Beier, Sarah Bender-Kronberg, Matthias Berthold, Wolfgang Block, Roland Doil, Christa donatius, Frieder Falk, Satenik Ghulijanyan, Şakir Gökçebağ, Frauke Hänke & Claus Kienle, Friederike Höppner, Katharina Holstein-Sturm, Ute Klapschuweit, Thomas Klockmann, Agatha Kosobucki, Kristina Küster-Witt, Max Messemer, Per Pegelow, Jens Rausch, Florian Reckert, Lena Schmidt, Janine Seelen, Shahram Shahmiri, Kuo Tian, Jenni Tietze, Annika Unterburg, Sebastian Unterrainer, frederick Vidal, Andrea Ziegler
Jury: Anja Giese, Barbara Maahs, Sibylle Mayr, Maryam Naderi, Avid Saeed
Understanding Contemporary Art Exhibitions
Contemporary art exhibitions, like System Error Human?, often challenge conventional notions of beauty and perfection. They invite you to question,interpret,and engage with the artwork on a deeper level. Its not always about finding a single “right” answer, but rather about exploring the possibilities and complexities presented by the artist. According to a recent report by Artsy (https://www.artsy.net/news/artsy-editorial-art-market-trends-2024/, accessed January 13, 2026), interest in conceptually driven art has increased by 15% in the last year, indicating a growing appetite for exhibitions that prioritize ideas over aesthetics.
The Role of the Jury
The selection process for exhibitions like this one is crucial. A diverse jury, as seen here with Anja giese, Barbara Maahs, Sibylle Mayr, Maryam Naderi, and Avid Saeed, brings a range of perspectives and expertise to the table. Their collective judgment shapes the narrative of the exhibition and highlights artists whose work resonates with current artistic discourse. This curated approach ensures a high level of quality and coherence.
Exploring Themes of Fragility and Error
The exhibition’s central theme – the exploration of fragility, incompleteness, and error – is especially relevant in today’s world. We live in an age of rapid technological advancement and constant change, where systems are prone to failure and uncertainty is the norm. The artists featured in System Error Human? offer a critical reflection on these conditions, prompting us to consider the value of imperfection and the potential for growth that lies within disruption. Do you think embracing imperfection can lead to greater creativity?
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