Temporary Gallery. Center for Contemporary Art in Cologne is not only an institution, but also a network. In this series, we want to introduce you to the people who are involved in our work and make the realization of our projects possible. Today we introduce you to Christina Hanich, production manager and coordinator of Temporary Gallery's residency program.

Interview: Lisa Klosterkötter
January 2025

Where are youright now answering these questions?

I'm sitting on my sofa, listening to relaxed salsa music in the background and taking the time to answer the questions. It feels good to use this moment of calm to reflect on my experiences.

 

How would you describe your job?

After 12 years as an engineer at Ford, I took the step to become self-employed in order to follow my passion for art and culture. Today, I work on a project-based basis on various projects – including for Temporary Gallery, where I am production manager and coordinator of the residency program. My job is a combination of organization, collaboration, artistic work and the opportunity to realize art projects.

 

What is your role at the Temporary Gallery?

My role in the Temporary Gallery is very varied and includes various tasks that I take on independently for specific projects. Initially, I was commissioned to design and build the mobile kitchen for the exhibition Cooking as Performance exhibition together with RA Bureau. In September 2023, I joined the Temporary Gallery as production manager for Ines Doujak's exhibition Every courageous life is a song to the future, where I mainly organized a performative parade in public space. In 2024, I then took over the production management for the exhibition Moving Beyond The Time Of Salt by Albert Whittle, which was curated by the duo Sour Grass. At the same time, I coordinated the residency program for 2024 and accompanied the curators on site.

 

What was one of your favorite moments in the Temporary Gallery program that has stayed with you?

A particularly defining moment for me was Jakeline Romero Epiayú's visit to the Temporary Gallery. It was a great honor for me to be able to accompany such an important leader of the indigenous Mujeres Wayuu community from Colombia in Cologne. Listening to her talks and going on tours with Camilo Pachón and Nada Schroer, such as the Hambach open-cast mine, was a deeply moving experience. Jakeline's work is of enormous importance and demonstrates incredible courage. It was all the more shocking for me to learn of her death - this moment will stay with me for a long time, not only because of the personal encounter, but also because of the lasting impression she left behind.

 

What is your next project for the Temporary Gallery?

My next project for the Temporary Gallery is still open and will hopefully become more concrete in the coming months, we are currently still waiting for answers from our funding bodies. I would be very happy to continue working on the residency programme or to co-organize one of the upcoming exhibitions, depending on the opportunities that arise.

 

What are questions that are generally on your mind at the moment?

At the moment, I'm dealing with the question of how art and art institutions can continue to exist and work sustainably in times of budget cuts and financial restrictions. It's a complicated situation in which we have to ask ourselves how we can maintain art and culture not only as an important part of society, but also as a professional field from which we can make a living. How can we as artists and cultural institutions find a space in which art can maintain its social relevance and at the same time be sustainable for everyone involved? And how can art make a contribution to the major social issues that are currently preoccupying us, such as social justice, environmental awareness and the future of society as a whole?

 

What else are you planning today, what are you particularly looking forward to?

As it's already evening, I'm looking forward to reviewing the day and taking some time for personal reflection. I use these quiet hours to think about the projects that are currently occupying me and to feel which thoughts and ideas were particularly present today. I then end the evening with the series 100 Years of Solitude – a nice way to end the day with a mix of calm and inspiration.

 

Photo:
Christina Hanich