In the organizer's words:

With Jakob Ganslmeier & Ana Zibelnik (art duo, The Hague, NL),
in conversation with Jan Wenzel (Spector Books, Leipzig)

The installation "Bereitschaft" (2024) by Jakob Ganslmeier and Ana Zibelnik is part of our current exhibition "Der Wille zur Veränderung" (until December 13, 2025). It examines how images of masculinity are aestheticized and politically charged in the pursuit of physical perfection and unrealistic fitness ideals in social media.

Her new publication "If a Flower Bloomed in a Dark Room, Would You Trust It?" (ed. Elisa Medde) has just been published by Spector Books. It documents the works "Bereitschaft" and "Repeat After Me" as well as the artistic research behind them. "Repeat After Me" sheds light on the promises of salvation of spiritual self-optimization up to the feeling of being chosen. Both artworks show the way in which social platforms such as TikTok can radicalize and right-wing extremist groups use visual languages and viral trends for their ideologies.

In a panel discussion with publisher Jan Wenzel from Spector Books, the two artists will discuss how such online imagery can be translated into book form and what new ways of reading it can create.

Further information on Jakob Ganslmeier at www.jakobganslmeier.com, on Ana Zibelnik at www.anazibelnik.com and on the publication at www.spectorbooks.com