photos: Anton Vichrov/PACT Zollverein
Since June 2025, "Der Kleine Laden," by PACT Zollverein a vacant shop with a large window front in the heart of Katernberg, has served as a platform for artistic explorations of global issues and their significance for the district, its residents, and the Ruhr region. The 2025 annual theme is "Water." Local and regional artists were invited to submit works that explore water as a natural phenomenon, resource, and/or cultural symbol from various perspectives.
The exhibition "Wasser & andere Kostbarkeiten" by Gregor Leiprecht & Konstantin Pütz is dedicated to the attraction of water as a source of life and a place of human encounter. Mythology falsely claims that jackdaws, magpies, and other corvids have a predilection for shiny things. Our own fascination with glitter can be traced back to a primal instinct: the search for water. The small shop is transformed into a corner pub, a living room, or a karaoke bar – in the center, a fountain from which water bubbles, flooding the area and literally making the gathering “liquid.” Installational moments reflect familiar gathering places; the space glitters and glows, attracting people – and inviting them to stay.
The installation is activated by public events: small communal activities, karaoke and cooking evenings, that also revolve around the element of water, community, and new forms of togetherness.
The installation is activated by public events: small communal activities, karaoke and cooking evenings, that also revolve around the element of water, community, and new forms of togetherness.
Location: PACT Zollverein/ "Der kleine Laden"
Supported by: PACT Zollverein, Kulturamt Stadt Essen, Produktionshäuser