When can I visit HEROES OF WORK?

The exhibition is on view from October 1 to 16, 2026. Access is available from Wednesday to Friday from 1 PM to 5 PM, unless the venue is privately booked.

How much does admission cost?

Admission to the exhibition is free.

Where does HEROES OF WORK take place?

The exhibition takes place at the East Pool, Leipziger Str. 99, 34123 Kassel.

What photographic technique does Manfred Schwellies use?

The photographs were created analog on black-and-white film in medium format and natural light.

What is the exhibition about?

HEROES OF WORK showcases portraits of individuals from industrial working environments and photographic explores the relationship between work, dignity, technology, and identity.

Are there guided tours or workshops?

No confirmed dates for guided tours or workshops are mentioned in the available event information.

HEROES OF WORK: Black-and-White Photography Shows the Dignity of Industrial Work

Name: HEROES OF WORK
Start: 2026-10-01T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-16T17:00:00+02:00
Location: Hallenbad Ost

HEROES OF WORK: The Dignity of Work in Analog Black-and-White Portraits

At the East Pool Kassel, Manfred Schwellies presents an urgent photographic documentation of industrial working environments with HEROES OF WORK. Over seven years, portraits of people whose daily lives are shaped by machines, production processes, and physical concentration were created in companies both domestically and internationally. The free admission provides all visitors access to an extraordinary art experience between documentary photography, social observation, and aesthetic experience.

Faces, Postures, and the Silent Presence of Work

The exhibition centers on the human being. The black-and-white portraits direct attention to faces, hands, clothing, and body postures. Delicately graded shades of gray transform industrial environments into concentrated image spaces where personal dignity and social significance interconnect. The photographs do not speak of anonymous production processes but of individuals with their own stories, attitudes, and presence.

Analog Photography as an Artistic Decision

All images were taken analog on black-and-white film in medium format and natural light. The photographic grain, precise tonal values, and calm lighting treatment give the images a special materiality. Contours stand out sharply, surfaces gain weight, and the working world appears both objectively documented and almost sculpturally condensed. Each view of the work invites reflection on time, technology, identity, and recognition.

Industrial Photography Between Documentation and Art

Manfred Schwellies employs a visual language that combines documentary accuracy with art photographic sensitivity. His international experience and multiple award-winning works anchor HEROES OF WORK in contemporary industrial photography. The exhibition refers to an art historical tradition in which working worlds are not merely depicted but interpreted as social spaces. Thus, cultural education emerges from precise observation: Visitors encounter photographs about work, technology, social responsibility, and human dignity.

Industrial Aesthetics at the East Pool

The exhibition site enhances the impact of the series. The former East Pool in Kassel-Bettenhausen was built in 1929 in Bauhaus style and has been revitalized as a listed cultural and event venue. The open spatial impact, industrial architecture, and clear exhibition atmosphere create a harmonious setting for Schwellies' documentary photography. An aesthetic experience arises between architectural history and contemporary art, sharpening the perception of the subjects.

Conclusion: A Quiet, Powerful Art Experience

HEROES OF WORK combines analog black-and-white photography, social observation, and art historically relevant industrial imagery. The exhibition makes the dignity of working people visible and shows how precisely photography can capture social reality. Anyone interested in contemporary photography, documentary art, and the relationship between humans, technology, and work spaces should definitely experience this exhibition live at the East Pool Kassel.