Reflected in Braunschweig: Contemporary Etching in the Dialogue of Three Art Schools

Reflected: Contemporary Etching in the Dialogue of Art Schools

The exhibition Reflected – Perspectives of Contemporary Etching brings together current positions of printmaking in the university gallery of the University of Fine Arts Braunschweig. Students and teachers from HBK Braunschweig, the Academy of Graphics and Book Art Leipzig, and the weißensee school of art berlin showcase around 50 works and open a multifaceted view of etching as an independent contemporary art direction.

Line, Print, and Reflection

Etching arises from the interplay of intervention and impression. Lines are inscribed into a plate, areas are condensed, traces are transferred, and reflected in the printing process. It is this connection of craftsmanship, materiality, and controlled chance that shapes the aesthetic experience of the exhibition. The examination of the works makes visible how differently artists engage with intaglio, line, tonal values, and paper.

A Traditional Technique in the Present

The exhibition connects art-historical tradition with current issues. Etching developed into a significant graphic technique since the late 15th century and still stands for concentrated image creation, serial working methods, and a special closeness to the artistic process. In Reflected, it appears not as a nostalgic procedure, but as a vibrant medium of contemporary art.

Three Art Schools, Many Perspectives

The curatorial concept relies on the exchange of three training and production sites. The participation of HBK Braunschweig, HGB Leipzig, and the weißensee school of art berlin brings together different teaching traditions, workshop cultures, and individual visual languages. This creates a multi-voiced panorama between drawing, abstraction, body, space, and social observation.

Exhibition Atmosphere and Aesthetic Experience

At the university gallery, visitors encounter an art form that invites precise perception. Fine lines, deep blacks, open paper surfaces, and rhythmic repetitions unfold their effect in direct encounter. The quiet intensity of etching slows down the gaze and creates an art experience where technical research, personal handwriting, and art-historical awareness connect.

Opening and Visit

The exhibition will open on October 27, 2026, at 6 PM in the university gallery. The exhibition runs from October 28 to November 13, 2026. Admission is free. Thus, Reflected offers an accessible entry to contemporary printmaking and cultural education.

Conclusion: Reflected – Perspectives of Contemporary Etching demonstrates how adaptable etching remains in the 21st century. Between printing traces, reflection, and material image surfaces, an exhibition emerges that connects art-historical knowledge with immediate aesthetic experience. Anyone wanting to discover contemporary art, graphic techniques, and young artistic positions should experience this concentrated art event live in Braunschweig.

Official Channels of the University of Fine Arts Braunschweig:

• Instagram: no official profile found
• Facebook: no official profile found
• YouTube: no official profile found
• Website: https://www.hbk-bs.de/

Sources:

• Events – University of Fine Arts Braunschweig
• University of Fine Arts Braunschweig – Exhibition Announcement
• Reflected – Perspectives of Contemporary Etching, Druckspiegel
• Reflected – Druckkunst-Museum Leipzig