“The path to my exhibitions often resembles a journey with unplanned or unexpected stops and destinations.” (Ulla Penselin)
The photographs she took in 2025 and 2026 in the vacant Karstadt building in Harburg emerged as the starting point for this journey to Ulla Penselin’s exhibition as part of the Hamburg Architecture Summer 2026.
In future, the two upper floors are to be made available under the label “Kaskade” for (temporary) use for a variety of cultural and artistic activities. In the course of this new appropriation of old spaces, real new spaces will also be created in (and with) the old building stock. What already exists will be utilised, redefined and transformed.
Building on this concept, Ulla Penselin uses various stylistic devices to create her own (photographic) spaces that allude to the transition and connection between ‘department store and art’.
Ulla Penselin’s distinctive style of architectural photography often casts a dissecting gaze upon the whole through her choice of framing or perspective – a view of the existing that detaches itself from the pragmatic function of a spatial situation.
She brings into focus the details those 'get lost’ in the overall impression. This results in surprising and sometimes unsettling views.
Vernissage 09 June 2026, 7pm
The exhibition runs until 20 June 2026 / Mon–Fri 3pm–7pm / Sat & Sun 12pm–5pm
This is an event taking place as part of the Hamburg Architecture Summer 2026.
