Katharina Gaenssler: UP!

In the organizer's words:

On September 20, 2025, the temporary outdoor installation UP! by Katharina Gaenssler will open on the terrace of the MINSK Kunsthaus in Potsdam. Over the course of three weeks and with an accompanying program at the weekends, a six-metre-high, colourful balloon will float on the terrace of the building - visible from afar during the day and illuminated from the inside at night.

With UP!, Gaenssler is taking up one of the GDR's most spectacular escape stories: in 1979, the Strelzyk and Wetzel families managed to flee across the inner-German border to West Germany in a hot-air balloon they had built themselves. Gaenssler takes up this iconic moment in German-German history and transforms it into a "social sculpture" that carries questions of memory, democracy, flight and social participation into our present day.

The varied supporting program over three weekends consists of workshops for children, film screenings, an artist talk and DJ sets and creates a space for exchange, creativity and reflection. The program invites visitors of all ages to engage artistically and socially with the themes of the installation. A special highlight: DAS MINSK celebrates its third birthdayon September 27 andcordially invites all visitors to celebrate this special occasion together.

SA, 20.9.2025: OPENING

16:30: Exclusive preview for children and families: experience the inflation of the balloon live

16:30-17:00: Introduction for children to the work and historical background

5 / 5:30 pm: Performance by the ChorWerk Potsdam and joint "human rights singing" with the audience

6 - 9 p.m.: Art:Dialogues in the exhibition "Wohnkomplex"

6 pm: Official opening and discussion between Katharina Gaenssler and Anna Schneider

Followed by a DJ set by Eric D. Clark

Sat, 27.9.2025: BIRTHDAY WEEKEND - 3 YEARS OF THE MINSK

2 - 5 p.m.: Drop-in workshop for children, creative offer for the balloon installation UP!

4 pm: Cutting of the birthday cake, designed by Chelsea Turowsky, at Café Hedwig

from 6 p.m.: DJ set by Tereza

FILM PROGRAM

Thu, 2.10.2025, 7 pm: Film screening "Forbidden Flight", 2014 by Hester Overmars (director), 56 min
Chronicle of a failed escape attempt by Michael Anhalt (artist)

Fri, 3.10.2025, 6 pm: Film screening "Ballon", 2018, by Michael Herbig, 125 min, German feature film, followed by a discussion with Günter Wetzel

Sat, 4.10.2025, 6 pm: Film screening "Green Border", 2023 by Agnieszka Holland, 147 min

All information can also be found at: https://dasminsk.de/ausstellungen/7270/katharina_gaenssler

Price information:

ADMISSION: 10 euros, 8 euros reduced. The combined ticket is valid for the Museum Barberini and DAS MINSK Kunsthaus in Potsdam.