The opening of the exhibition Body Multiple offers a comprehensive overview of the work of artist Albrecht Becker, who died in 2002. One focus is on the exotic elements in Becker’s work—which has previously been presented primarily as an example of gay (self-)representation or as a historical testimony to the persecution and marginalization of gay men under National Socialism and in the postwar period. The exhibition also features works by the artists Hervé Joseph Lebrun, Jean-Ulrick Désert, Richard Hawkins, and Lucas Odahara.

Born in 1906 in Saxony-Anhalt and later living in Hamburg, Albrecht Becker’s life was shaped by the political and social upheavals of the 20th century, including persecution during the Nazi era, changes in the tattoo subculture after the war, and the growing interest in performance and body art. His practice, in which he staged and transformed his own body over decades, serves as an important point of reference. In often elaborately staged photographs that oscillate between self-staging and alienation, identity and the body appear as mutable, performative constructions.

The works of the contemporary artists in Body Multiple respond to this aspect and expand upon it with their own queer perspectives. With his multimedia performance NH2K, Jean-Ulrick Désert addresses racist stereotypes in German local culture and tourism. Richard Hawkins’ video works extend the examination of exoticism to other cultural contexts as well as to the work of Antonin Artaud and Tatsumi Hijikata. Lucas Odahara’s provisional paper folding constructions, titled Intervalos, refer to cultural hybridity and fleeting identities. Hervé Joseph Lebrun’s work, on the other hand, stems from direct collaboration with Albrecht Becker not long before his death.

The exhibition opening on May 30 marks the start of the Project Space Festival 2026. With Body Multiple, Scherben positions itself at the intersection between the art-interested public, Berlin art institutions, and the independent scene through a cross-generational exhibition project. The exhibition is curated by Scherben in cooperation with Tabitha Love and Birgit Bosold.

Scherben

Scherben is a contemporary exhibition space in Berlin-Mitte founded in 2021 by artists Lorenz Liebig and Tarik Kentouche. As a venue that maintains close ties with artists, Scherben supports Berlin's artistic scene and contributes to a vibrant international art discourse. The program brings together emerging, established, and historical artists across generations.
The exhibitions are developed independently and in close collaboration with the artists. They present interventions in historically marginalized art movements, contemporary works, and artistic responses. With fixed opening hours and free admission, Scherben makes carefully

Founded: 2021