Bizarrely Intimate Encounters
In the heart of Düsseldorf, the city museum is currently hosting an intriguing and thought-provoking exhibition. Titled "Transition Home: Photographs by Richard Reisen," the display features a series of images that capture everyday life in a transition home during the late 1980s.
The exhibition, which runs until August 30, showcases Reisen's unique ability to capture people, situations, and objects as if he had never seen them before. The images, taken at Schiessstraße 5, Düsseldorf-Heerdt, portray timeless motifs such as portraits next to cars, people proudly sitting on their own bicycles, cooking on tiny stoves, and waiting beside running washing machines.
Reisen's gaze in the photographs is marked by curiosity and self-assurance, reflecting his dual role as a security guard and a photographer. The images are both alien and familiar, with themes of flight and migration still relevant today. They are old enough for much of what they show to appear historical, featuring handwritten entries in a visitor's book, old-fashioned sliding windows, and a cigarette machine.
Smoking was prevalent in every room at the transition home, as depicted in the photographs. Visitors must wear mouth and nose coverings inside the museum building, ensuring a safe and hygienic environment for all.
Happy hour, offering free admission, is available from 5 pm to 6 pm on Tuesday to Saturday at the Düsseldorf city museum. Free admission is also offered on Sundays. Admission to the collections and special exhibition is €4, reduced €2. Free admission for children and young people up to 18 years.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm. The highway in front of the terrace remains, maintaining the view from the rooms and the balcony at Schiessstraße 5, Düsseldorf-Heerdt.
Despite Richard Reisen not being a widely known public figure in major art or museum contexts up to mid-2025, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to discover his work and gain insights into a significant period of Düsseldorf's history.
