When does HEROES OF WORK take place?

The exhibition can be seen from September 3 to November 16, 2026, at Hallenbad Ost Kassel. The specified event date starts on October 15, 2026, at 1 PM.

What is the entrance fee for the exhibition?

Entry to HEROES OF WORK is free.

Where is the exhibition taking place?

HEROES OF WORK is presented at Hallenbad Ost, Leipziger Straße 99, 34123 Kassel.

Who created the photographs?

The photographs were taken by Manfred Georg Schwellies, an internationally experienced industrial and photographic artist.

What photographic technique was used?

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

Are there official social media channels for the artist?

No official profiles were found for Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. An artist website is listed as the official online presence.

HEROES OF WORK: Black-and-White Photography about Work, Dignity, and Human Presence

Name: HEROES OF WORK
Start: 2026-10-15T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-11-16T23:59:00+01:00
Location: Hallenbad Ost

HEROES OF WORK: The Dignity of Work in Compelling Images

With the exhibition HEROES OF WORK, photographer Manfred Georg Schwellies focuses on the people behind industrial production worlds. Over seven years, analog black-and-white portraits were created in companies both domestically and abroad, making concentration, physical presence, and human dignity visible. The exhibition at Hallenbad Ost Kassel combines documentary photography with a precise aesthetic contemplation of the works.

Faces Between Human and Machine

The photographs depict workers not as anonymous components of industrial processes but as personalities with their own stories. Faces, hands, postures, and work clothes enter into a tense dialogue with machines, workshops, and production environments. This creates a silent visual language about performance, identity, and social visibility.

Analog Black-and-White Photography as Aesthetic Experience

Schwellies took all the photographs analog on black-and-white film in medium format and with natural light. The differentiated tonal quality, fine grain, and restrained lighting give the images a special materiality. Contours gain sharpness, surfaces obtain weight, and industrial spaces appear almost sculptural. In the concentrated contemplation of the works, the exhibition atmosphere unfolds between documentary accuracy and poetic density.

Documentary Photography with Art Historical Depth

HEROES OF WORK stands in the tradition of worker photography and socially engaged documentary photography. At the same time, the series maintains an independent artistic stance: the people are not reduced to their professional function but are perceived in their individual presence. Manfred Georg Schwellies works as a photo designer, industrial and product photographer, as well as a photographic artist. His exhibition biography includes presentations in Husum, Rendsburg, and Kassel.

Industrial Aesthetics at Hallenbad Ost

The exhibition location enhances the impact of the photographs. Hallenbad Ost was built in 1929 in the Bauhaus style and was converted into a cultural and event house as a listed building. The clear architecture, open spatial effect, and the history of the place create a concentrated framework for the series of images. As a venue for documenta 15, the building has already shaped the cultural landscape of Kassel.

Voices from Art Criticism

A review by hr2-kultur highlighted the intensity of the exhibition and the impact of the work and industrial aesthetics. In particular, the precise observation of details makes the visit a compelling aesthetic experience. The exhibition invites one to perceive everyday work anew and recognize the value of human achievement behind familiar products.

Conclusion: A Silent, Powerful Art Experience

HEROES OF WORK combines analog photography, social observation, and cultural education. Visitors can expect a concentrated exhibition about work, technology, body, dignity, and social visibility. Anyone who appreciates documentary photography, black-and-white portraits, and art historically relevant image series should definitely experience this art event live at Hallenbad Ost Kassel.