An abandoned factory building in Tuttlingen, Germany, is getting a new lease on life as a temporary art venue. The former Kurt Semrau GmbH facility on Schützenstraße will host the third edition of the Animation-Installation Biennial in October, transforming what was nearly a forgotten industrial space into a showcase for contemporary digital art.

The inconspicuous building sits tucked away in the second row between the houses of Schützenstraße and the Old Cemetery on the Honberg hillside. For years, it housed Kurt Semrau GmbH, a lighting manufacturer that has been part of medical technology company Richard Wolf GmbH since 1971. The company relocated to the former Nothhelfer car dealership in the Gänsäcker industrial area in 2016, leaving the factory building empty.

Since February 2020, the vacant factory building has belonged to the city of Tuttlingen. According to city spokesperson Arno Specht, the goal was and continues to be securing the property with a view toward long-term development in the residential construction sector. Currently, a large portion of the space is being used for storage, including municipal emergency reserves such as field beds and protective equipment for potential pandemics.

Due to these storage needs and because housing construction is currently a challenging topic anyway, there are no current plans to sell the property, Specht explained. However, the building can certainly be used temporarily, as demonstrated by the upcoming October exhibition.

Andreas Leutkart from the cultural association Kukav discovered the old factory while searching for a new exhibition venue for the Animation-Installation Biennial. The exhibition is taking place for the third time, organized by Kukav in cooperation with the Municipal Gallery. In 2021, five regional works were first shown, followed by ten works in 2023 at the Old Crematorium Cultural Center.

For the third edition, 80 applications were submitted for the art exhibition. A jury led by organizer Andreas Leutkart selected ten works, which will be displayed from October 2-11. The selected pieces are all animation films, some generated using artificial intelligence, while others employ stop-motion and various other techniques. The artists come from Germany, Switzerland, and Italy.

The range of works is extensive, according to Leutkart. The exhibition includes a purely mechanical flip book that operates media-critically within a money counter. Other films are combined with plastic and painting in fully designed spaces, while another work integrates a kaleidoscope into a car installation.

The artworks analytically engage with current themes such as war nostalgia, capitalism and media, the influence of artificial intelligence, and the relationship between body and technology. According to a press release, the pieces are thought-provoking while also working with humor, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in different worlds.

The exhibition opening will take place on Friday, October 2, at 7:00 PM. After the vernissage, the exhibition will be open on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 11 AM to 4 PM, and on weekdays from 5 PM to 9 PM. The final exhibition day is October 11. On October 12, a brunch followed by an artist discussion will take place at Kulturkasten, located at Katharinenstraße 9 in Tuttlingen.