40 Years of SCHIRN: The Anniversary Weekend in Pictures
05/19/2026
4 min reading time
40 Years of SCHIRN and counting! We celebrated this milestone with you under the motto “One Weekend Together.” From the rave at SCHIRN AT NIGHT to the book launch and lecture performance with artist Lili Reynaud-Dewar, as well as a screen-printing workshop and an art project with Rosemary Mayer – here are the highlights of the anniversary weekend.
Friday: Kick-Off Under Strobe Lights
For the first time as part of the major anniversary weekend, our party series SCHIRN AT NIGHT took place at the temporary location in Bockenheim. Alongside a visit to the Thomas Bayrle exhibition, guests were also drawn to our newly greened courtyard, where drinks and a relaxed atmosphere awaited. Dancing took place across two floors, with Hall 2 transformed into a techno club – complete with strobes, sweat, and synths. Thank you for the music, Amila, ALYZAH, Becksham, ALBA, and Josi Miller!
Saturday: Art Actions, Skateboards, and Conversations
The following day continued at a slightly calmer pace, though no less exciting: the courtyard was quickly transformed into a skate park for kids, while the foyer hosted a workshop station. Throughout the day, both children and adults were invited to design their own balloons – inspired by the art action “Connections (Frankfurt),” which would take place later that day.
In the afternoon, this project created a very special moment of unity: following a concept by artist Rosemary Mayer, an ephemeral sculpture consisting of 10 helium balloons was created. Each balloon was dedicated to a person and adorned with both a flower and a star. The persons were selected by 10 neighbourhood associations and initiatives from Bockenheim, while the flowers and stars were chosen in collaboration with the Palmengarten and the Physikalischer Verein.
During a talk moderated by Tyrown Vincent, SCHIRN staff members offered behind-the-scenes insights into their work.
In the evening, Lili Reynaud-Dewar presented another highlight: together with curator Matthias Ulrich, the artist introduced her new book Perfect Lives in an exclusive lecture performance. Fun fact: the book tells the story of 40 years of SCHIRN, interwoven with her own biography.
Sunday: Screen Printing, Sounds, and Sunday Vibes
On the third and final day of the anniversary weekend, we got creative together once more: alongside free admission, snacks, and Sunday sounds by DJs MWAH and Halva, visitors could explore the art of screen printing in our open print workshop, inspired by the Thomas Bayrle exhibition, and turn their own T-shirts into cool merchandise.
The talk “Connections (Frankfurt)” on Rosemary Mayer’s work of the same name, featuring Marie Warsh, co-director of the Estate Rosemary Mayer, and assistant curator Theresa Dettinger, brought the anniversary weekend to a close.
Finally, we would also like to thank everyone involved – participants, contributors, and visitors alike – for this wonderful weekend. Here’s to the next 40 years!
