Eagle, Cross of Merit, Ballot Box - Redesigning Democratic Representation
(Group Show)
Museum Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt
28 August 2026 – 21 February 2027
Eagle, Cross of Merit, Ballot Box at Museum Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt, explores how familiar symbols of democratic representation can be reconsidered through contemporary art and design.
A ballot box, a heraldic animal, a cross of merit: three everyday objects that play a significant role in democratic life, yet are rarely questioned. The exhibition invites visitors to take a fresh look at these symbols and consider whether they still reflect contemporary understandings of democracy.
Bringing together international artists and designers, the exhibition presents new interpretations of the ballot box, the federal eagle, and the Federal Cross of Merit. Through these objects, it examines how design shapes political representation and how even the most established symbols can be reimagined. The exhibition is part of Re-De-Re (Redesigning Democratic Representation), a research project by the Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg and the Hochschule des Bundes für öffentliche Verwaltung, funded by the VolkswagenStiftung.
Curated by Friedrich von Borries
Exhibition design by Friedrich von Borries and Philippe Cartier
Scientific team: Sven T. Siefken, Friedrich von Borries, Juliane Baruck, Philipp Cartier
High Hopes / Low-Res, 2026
234 x 252 x 110 cm
Powder coated aluminium tile mosaic on aluminium sheet, galvanized steel frame and support
Democracy is getting blurrier by the day. How do we bring it back into focus?
In High Hopes / Low-Res, Esra Gülmen revisits the visual language of pixelation, previously used in her work to explore censorship and visibility, and applies it to the eagle of the German Bundestag.
Taking the original aluminium sculpture in the parliament building as her starting point, Gülmen reimagines this familiar symbol through fragmentation. The work marks her first exploration of metal mosaic, a deliberate material choice that references both the original sculpture and Germany’s industrial and engineering heritage.
As the eagle gradually loses its definition, the work reflects on the fragility of democratic ideals and the shifting relationship between representation and reality. Drawing on her experience as an immigrant, it also offers a personal reflection on hope, belonging, and the expectations placed on democracy.
Photo: Günzel/Rademacher © Museum Angewandte Kunst
