In the winter of 2020, Berlin-based artist Charly Hall set out on foot from Munich to Paris. He documented his journey – with a camera, paper and pen. The resulting photos and field notes can be viewed until 06.05.2023 as part of the exhibition “My thoughts are wood” at the Kunstwild project space in Friedenau. Hall began his odyssey on the same day as Werner Herzog did in 1974, when the filmmaker undertook a pilgrimage to save the mother of New German Cinema, Lotte Eisner, from dying. Hall’s journey can be read as a reflection on the essentials of life – a question of how nature becomes a mirror of one’s state of mind, and at the same time a portrait of the state of the pandemic. The winter landscapes in southern Germany that Hall passed on his journey are shrouded in fog and depict a distinctive mood. At the same time, his writings recount loneliness and an almost existential experience on the verge of self-torment.
The forest, which continues to absorb the artist, seems to dissolve the boundaries between man and nature as thoughts become woods. Located in a former corner store near S-Bahn station Bundesplatz, the Kunstwild project space offers an open platform for independent artists and projects. “My thoughts are wood” is an impressive and poetic reflection on the substance of life and a deep look into inner landscapes. A visit to the exhibition is worthwhile for anyone who wants to embark on an inspiring and emotional journey.
Text: Alison Musch / Photos: Charly Hall & Kunstwild
Kunstwild, Eschenstr.4, 12161 Berlin–Friedenau; map
Fri 18–20h, Sat & Sun 14–18h
“My thoughts are wood”, until 06.05.2023.
