Mash & Heal" von  Folke Köbberling

In the organizer's words:

Munich is the setting for an installation by artist Folke Köbberling that addresses the increasing pressure that cars are exerting on our public spaces.

In September 2024, artist Folke Köbberling initiated the art project "Mash & Heal" at three locations in Munich's urban space. Large-scale replicas of SUVs were made from a self-made, compostable composite material and placed in public spaces. As a critical commentary on the dominance of the automobile and the sealing of the city, the sculptures also functioned as indicators for the use of public space in Munich. At the three locations - Europaplatz, Herzog-Wilhelm-Straße / corner of Kreuzstraße and Schleißheimerstraße / corner of Dachauer Straße - they were used in different ways: they served as dwellings, experienced vandalism or were cared for and preserved by neighbors.

After the vehicles decomposed in the urban space over a period of 12 months, the remains of the three automobile imitations will be brought together this autumn in two processions through the streets of Munich together with the urban community to a central location - in the run-up to the IAA Mobility 2025 motor show and the first presentation of the next, latest SUV from BMW. At Schleißheimerstraße 6, they will be united to form a new, green sculpture and ceremonially laid to rest.

"Mash & Heal" addresses the increasing pressure that ever larger and more numerous cars are exerting on our public spaces. In view of the fact that cities are becoming increasingly sealed and congested, Folke Köbberling transforms the SUVs into sustainable sculptures that aim to reclaim urban space for people.

Folke Köbberling, born in 1969, lives and works in Berlin.

Supporting program

MASH & HEAL, Talk I "The boiling asphalt"

September 5, 7.30 pm in Pavilion 333 / Pinakothek der Moderne

Artistic intervention meets climate debate: Elisabeth Endres (TU Braunschweig), Felix Lüdicke (TU Munich), Rafael Stutz (TU Munich) and Folke Köbberling talk about heat stress, land sealing and the future of urban spaces in the talk "Der kochende Asphalt". Moderator: Elke Falat.

MASH & HEAL, Talk II "The Cure"

September 6, 7.30 p.m. in Pavilion 333 / Pinakothek der Moderne

Does art have an effect? A conversation with curator Adrienne Goehler, architect, artist and scientist Natalija Miodragovic and artists Egill Sabjjoernsson, Augusta Oddsdottir and Folke Köbberling.

Moderator: Dr. Christine Fuchs, artist, curator and art therapist

Closing:

September 7, 2025, 11 a.m., start of the procession

from 11 a.m. Europaplatz

from 11.30 a.m. Sendlinger Tor

1.30 p.m. Funeral Schleißheimerstraße 6

Eulogy: Tom Biburger; Sound installation: Boris Jöns; Music: Express Brassband

14.30 Tasting

More information can be found here: https://www.publicartmuenchen.de/projekte/mash-heal/