“Retirement (is about exploring your wide open future)”
The title is taken from an advertisement of a German car company celebrating the retirement of one of its CEOs (youtube link). In art it is very difficult to react to something that cynical and unworldly as a the celebration of millionaires.
Germany is one of the richest countries in the world. However, the divide between rich and poor becomes bigger and bigger. Framed as a meritocracy, an increasing number of hard-working people are poor as well as almost a quarter of Germany’s retired people. In the future this situation will exacerbate even further and it does not look much different in other countries.
Because their only way to gain a bit extra or to show their worth in a performance-oriented society, it has become a common sight to see old people collecting returnable bottles.
On the other hand, the display of designer brands becomes a symbol of the ability to consume. It is enough to present a checkered bag and say look at me; I am worth something.
In the motive’s background one can identify the logo of the job center, the dole (formerly known as Hartz IV), the food bank and the green dot (symbolizing the collection and recycling of consumer’s trash), its colour and arrangement resemble that of a famous fashion brand.
The first version of this mural was painted in Tübingen, October 2024 as part of the zerteilt exhibition at Shedhalle.
In 2026 it was painted it inside the Hotel Berlin, Berlin right opposite the CDU-party’s headquarters. For this version 24 carat gold plating was added. It was additionally painted at the Kulturnetzwerk Etzdorf, which was featured at Brooklyn Street Art.
A version on canvas can be found here.
~ Etzdorf / Berlin / Tübingen – Germany ~
