eingetaucht/aufgetaucht – Diplome der Kunst 2026

In the organizer's words:

eingetaucht/aufgetaucht brings together the final works of 41 graduates of the Department of Art in a moment of transition.
of transition. Their studies prove to be a deepening: an immersion in the examination of material and form as well as the social conditions in which art is created.

Art-immanent and socio-political issues are condensed and overlapped
are negotiated and reflected upon. Different media, perspectives and attitudes enter into dialog with each other and open up a polyphonic, exciting picture of contemporary artistic practice.

The group exhibition Diplomas of Art 2026 opens up a space in which diverse artistic approaches, media and formats come together. A common emergence of the developed artistic positions becomes visible - a last pause and catching one's breath at the
the BURG before they enter the public with sharpened senses.

With final works by

Sophie Anger, Marlene Bonamy, Eunsoo Cho, Johanna Eckhardt,
Markus Ettenauer, Julia Sophie Frank, Amber Hummel,
Simone Jahnkow, Niklas Junker, Vanessa Kahl, Lu Kappmeier,
Jongseung Kim, Finn Leffe Kistner, Paul Kobert, Johanna Koepe,
Lykke Kotte, Ida Charlotte Kuhfß, Lucas Kurz, Yerina Lee,
Simon Malinowsky, Emma Louise Meyer, Joseph Nagel, Tràmi Nguyen,
Haerim Oh, Roger Paulino, Louisa Pieper, Linn Pulsack,
Philip Riedrich-Möller, Frieder Sailer, Annina Sarantis, Gabriel Stichling,
Ayaha Tokusa, Joëlle Tumasov, Carmen Voigt, Ruth Wadenpohl,
Lina Wiedwald, Witte Böhm, Soyoung Yang, Yuan Yang, Sofia Zafiridou

Art Prize of the Saalesparkasse Foundation

In 2026, the Saalesparkasse Foundation will award the 20th art prize, endowed with 2,500 euros, to a graduate of the BURG Art Department. The prize is awarded by a jury of experts for an artistically and thematically outstanding diploma thesis. In addition to the art prize, up to three graduates receive recognition, which is linked to prize money of 500 euros each.

Jury

• Prof. Bettina Erzgräber, Rector of the BURG
• Prof. Dr. Marita Tatari, Professor of Philosophy of Art and Cultural Theory, BURG
• Thomas Bauer-Friedrich, Director of the Moritzburg Art Museum Halle (Saale)
• Prof. Ricarda Roggan, Professor of Photography, State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart
• Carolina Pérez Pallares, Artistic Assistant Art (Teaching) / Art Education, BURG

Jury chair (without voting rights)

Prof. Tilo Baumgärtel, Vice-Rector, Professor of Painting, BURG

Opening and award ceremony

On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 6 pm, the Art Prize of the Saalesparkasse Foundation will be awarded in the Volkspark Halle and the exhibition will be ceremoniously opened.

Welcoming and honoring the graduates
Prof. Dr. Sara Burkhardt, Dean of the Department of Art at the BURG

Greetings
Elise Möller, curator of the exhibition

Welcome to the Art Prize of the Saalesparkasse Foundation
Prof. Bettina Erzgräber, Rector of Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle
Dr. Jürgen Fox, Chairman of the Board of the Saalesparkasse Foundation

Award ceremony
Prof. Dr. Marita Tatari, Professor of Philosophy of Art and Cultural Theory, BURG

All exhibition rooms are open from 6 to 9 pm

Accompanying program

Accompanying program

Reading from the written theses

Thursday, February 19, 2026, 5 pm: Burg Gallery in Volkspark
Reading from the final written works with the artists:
Witte Böhm, Amber Hummel, Yuan Yang, Tràmi Nguyen, Paul Kobert, Gabriel Stichling

Saturday, February 21, 2026, 2 pm: Art Foundation of the State of Saxony-Anhalt
Reading from the final written works with the artists:
Ida Charlotte Kuhfß, Finn Leffe Kistner, Ruth Wadenpohl, Lu Kappmeier, Lucas Kurz, Lykke Kotte, Emma Louise Meyer

Performance

Saturday, February 14, 2026, 2 pm: Burg Galerie im Volkspark
Performance with the artist Markus Ettenauer together with Patrice Lipeb

Saturday, February 28, 2026, 5 pm: Burg Galerie im Volkspark
Performance with the artist Simon Malinowsky together with FLAMA Trio (Leipzig)

Tandem tour

Thursday, February 12, 2026, 2 pm: Art Foundation of the State of Saxony-Anhalt
with Theresa Leschber (art education Kunstmuseum Moritzburg Halle (Saale)),
Elise Möller (curator) and the exhibiting artists Louisa Pieper, Linn Pulsack, Johanna Koepe

Audio guide tour with Simone Jahnkow

Meeting point: Riebeckplatz 4 at the Maritim/Interhotel Halle (Saale)
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 2 p.m., audio guide tour
Please bring your smartphone and headphones