On the occasion of the Bad Moon Rising exhibition, Stefan Kürten will present his musical performance 12 Guitars in our exhibition space.

12 Guitars was first performed in 2017 at Kunsthalle Düsseldorf and has since been continued in various forms and line-ups, depending on the location and context of the performance. Stefan Kürten begins the approximately 30-minute piece alone on guitar, before drums and bass join in. Gradually, 11 additional guitars are added, slowly building a kind of minimalist “wall of sound”. This wall steadily increases in intensity and volume. Its repetitive structure creates a hypnotic, almost meditative effect that subtly envelops both listeners and performers alike.

Before the performance, Stefan Kürten outlines the basic structure, but gives no further instructions. The musicians do not need to know each other, and no rehearsals take place beforehand. As a result, each performance is a unique creation that emerges spontaneously and intuitively in the moment—no “wall of sound” is ever the same.

The performance is accompanied by a video by Düsseldorf-based artist and photographer Kai Schmidt, filmed in California.

This is a special opportunity not only to experience Stefan Kürten’s works once more before the exhibition closes, but also to become part of an immersive experience with 12 Guitars.

The exact line-up of 12 Guitars will be announced on our website as soon as possible.

We look forward to seeing you!