Passersby frequently stop at the storefront at Obermarkt 5 in Görlitz, drawn to the captivating artworks that now occupy the space where a Johanniter ambulatory care service operated until earlier this year. Upon entering, visitors encounter Norbert Heimes and Michael Meaubert in their newly established gallery, having moved in just last week. These two artists from the Rhineland represent distinctly different artistic approaches that now unite under one roof.
On the right side of the gallery hang framed photographs of well-known landmarks from Görlitz. Alongside a large-format image of the Old Town Bridge with St. Peter's Church, visitors can find pictures of the Nikolai Tower and Apothecary Lane, as well as a historic black-and-white photograph of Luther Square from 1885, captured by photographer Robert Scholz.
The majority of these photographs represent the work of Michael Meaubert, originally from Bonn. His four decades of work in social services eventually brought him to East Saxony, where he became the residential facility director for Görlitz Lebenshilfe. The Rhinelander has also been politically active, having served as head of the CDU municipal association in Zittau. Photography has always been his passion, and at age 60, he transformed his hobby into a profession by opening his own studio at the Nikolai Tower.
Through his photographs, Meaubert explains, he aims to offer viewers a different perspective on familiar regional subjects. He wants observers to establish a connection with the image. His photographs have already moved some people to nostalgic reminiscence. Meaubert knows a story for each of his pictures. For instance, one visitor felt reminded of her former moped when viewing a photo of a yellow Simson Schwalbe motorcycle. This is exactly what Meaubert seeks to trigger: emotions in people who view his images.
The works of Norbert Heimes on the left side of the room appear completely different. At first glance, they resemble movie and concert posters. Additionally, there are paintings in various artistic styles ranging from Art Nouveau to the famous painting style of Vincent van Gogh. The special feature: these images were not created by humans but purely digitally by artificial intelligence – presumably an absolute novelty in Görlitz.
One of the works initially resembles a Barbie movie poster. Upon closer inspection, however, visitors read the film title: "Camping, Chaos & Currywurst." It depicts a couple sitting comfortably in folding chairs on the beach eating currywurst, with the sea and their motorhome in the background, and three dolphins jumping from the water on the horizon.
This poster was a gift for acquaintances who operate their own french fry stand in the Ruhr area – naturally featuring currywurst. The couple are also big fans of the schlager group Die Flippers. Therefore, he incorporated the three dolphins into the image, explains Norbert Heimes, the creator of this innovative art form. Companies and private individuals frequently approach him to create custom posters for corporate events or as gifts for birthdays and weddings.
First, he needs a photo of the person to be incorporated into the poster. Often, customers already have a rough idea of the desired style direction. When needed, Heimes provides expert consultation. With all this data and the photo, he feeds his AI software, which then generates an initial image proposal. Often, this is initially nonsense, reports Heimes. To truly match his vision, he must subsequently edit it and give it the finishing touches. The result is a sophisticated AI artwork that Heimes prints in poster size.
"In Görlitz it's not so hectic," says Heimes, explaining his attraction to the city. He came to Görlitz through a roundabout path. Born in the Lower Rhine region, he initially owned several video stores in North Rhine-Westphalia. Later, he moved to the Hamburg area. During a short vacation, he and his wife fell in love with Görlitz and decided on the spot to stay. Michael Meaubert also raves about the Neisse city and its particularly beautiful architecture. He quotes preservation specialist Gottfried Kiesow: "Görlitz is Germany's most beautiful city."
The collaboration between the two came about quite by chance – in Michael Meaubert's studio. "Norbert was my customer," he explains. The landlord at Obermarkt offered the opportunity to temporarily use the vacant shop. This sparked the idea to tackle the venture together. Their works are accessible to the public and are also offered for sale. The exhibition will remain until the end of the year, after which they must vacate the premises. Both artists are optimistic about continuing collaborative projects beyond that point.
The gallery maintains specific operating hours: Tuesday through Friday from 1 PM to 6 PM, and Saturday from 12 PM to 6 PM. This unique fusion of traditional photography and cutting-edge AI-generated art represents a creative revolution in Görlitz's cultural landscape, bringing together two distinct artistic visions that complement and enhance each other in unexpected ways.
