beständig war die Perle
Frauke Zabel, Detail Aus der Geschichte der Jablonecer Industrie von Bohumil Maryša, 1955, Muzeum skla a bižuterie v Jablonci nad Nisou, 2025, video still. Copyright: the artist
Programme & Events
Based on the tradition of glass bead production in the Kaufbeuren-Neugablonz district, Frauke Zabel's artistic-research project beständig war die Perle deals with the significance of glass beads as a global commodity and establishes connections between different places and times - from Venice to South America, from Bohemia to Swabia to the structural transformation of the Neugablonz district in Kaufbeuren. In the Kunsthaus Kaufbeuren attic, Frauke Zabel makes archive materials accessible as a subjective collection through her artistic sorting. These report on the global trade in goods at different times in colonial and neo-colonial contexts, but also on appropriation and self-empowerment.
The starting point is Frauke Zabel's training as a silver and goldsmith at the vocational school for glass and jewelry in Kaufbeuren-Neugablonz and her learning the technique of glass bead winding at the Bohemian Lamp Fire. Over the course of the exhibition, production sites, design and distribution structures will be examined, the collection will be expanded and supplemented with works from the archive and the lessons at the vocational school. In addition to the presentation in the exhibition space, posters will be shown in public spaces in Neugablonz and city walks will invite visitors to explore the district. In this way, an artistic collection and a participatory laboratory will be created with many voices and different perspectives, which will develop a long-term and dialogical narrative.
The project continues with a second part from November 16, 2025 – February 15, 2026. The dates for the events in fall/winter 2025 will be announced as soon as possible.
Supported by the Danner Foundation and with funds from the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and Art in the program VERBINDUNGSLINIEN of the BBK Bayern.
About Frauke Zabel ↓
The starting point is Frauke Zabel's training as a silver and goldsmith at the vocational school for glass and jewelry in Kaufbeuren-Neugablonz and her learning the technique of glass bead winding at the Bohemian Lamp Fire. Over the course of the exhibition, production sites, design and distribution structures will be examined, the collection will be expanded and supplemented with works from the archive and the lessons at the vocational school. In addition to the presentation in the exhibition space, posters will be shown in public spaces in Neugablonz and city walks will invite visitors to explore the district. In this way, an artistic collection and a participatory laboratory will be created with many voices and different perspectives, which will develop a long-term and dialogical narrative.