VERA MERCER EXHIBITION

Already in the 1950s, Vera Mercer captured a characteristic motif of hers in photographs during excursions through the then-still-existing Les Halles in the »Belly of Paris« alongside Jean Tinguely and Daniel Spoerri: piles of cow heads and feet, as well as long rows of pig halves. Many years later, this scene reappeared, now enveloped in fantastic colours. Vera Mercer’s neo-baroque still life expresses its splendour and abundance in the blooming, wilting, and fading. The presence of flowers and food, which are also key elements in her photography, may stem from her background in gastronomy and culinary. They find their place in her occasionally opulent still lifes as decorative elements. It is not only Mercer’s use of colour and light that captivates, but also the striking similarity to the Dutch masters of painting from the 17th and 18th centuries – the golden age of Baroque still lifes – that draws viewers in.

From June 1 to July 17, 2025, selected photographs by Vera Mercer will be on display at the old porcelain factory in Ludwigsburg Residential Palace. On concert days at the palace, the exhibition will open one hour before the concert begins. Further information is available online.

In cooperation with Galerie Schlichtenmaier