The sweetness of doing nothing

The Sweetness of doing nothing Illustration Annette Jacobs

Contemporary Illustration

July 29 – August 14 2022

The exhibition title is a reference to the Italian expression Il dolce far niente and emphasises the joys and lightness of being idle. The curators, illustrator Annette Jacobs and exhibition designer Lukas Schulz, have invited renowned illustrators – graduates and students – to explore this theme. On display are works by 25 artists from various fields of illustration such as books, magazines, advertising, animation, comics, branding and packaging design, art prints, clothing design, tattoo art and even augmented reality, virtual reality and gaming. The participants are Rosa Ahlers, Ruben Ahlers, Isabell Altmaier, Rumi Benecke, Falko Böck, Aelfleda Clackson, Andrew Collar, Suse Engel, Max Fiedler, Lilly Friedeberg, Annette Jacobs, Roman Klonek, Nora Kraska, Takumi Ogata, Igor Renko, Mycha Schekalla, Moritz Adam Schmitt, Katrin Schubert, Brian Storm, Shiwen Sven Wang, Kilian van de Water, Yeye Weller, Noam Weiner, Mo Freiknecht, Rahel Haack and Eli Alaimo Di Loro.

You can find information about the exhibition and its participants on Instagram

Igor Renko
Suse Engel
Roman Klonek small

The exhibition highlights the diversity of contemporary illustration formats in Düsseldorf and North Rhine-Westphalia. This is in no small part due to the range of analogue and digital tools available, which is why these items – from ink and spray cans to pens, scissors and paper to drawing tablets and VR headsets – are being exhibited alongside the works. In keeping with the theme, the works will be printed onto folding deckchairs.

Isabell Altmaier
Lilly Friedeberg

“Illustration is the oldest form of visual communication. It helps us to explain complex things or to tell stories. It is so much more than the illustration of books; it surrounds us everywhere, in public space, advertising and on social media. Illustration makes things visible that otherwise would not be – even something as fleeting as the sweetness of doing nothing. It establishes new, surprising connections and can even create its own worlds,” says Annette Jacobs.

“The exhibition challenges visitors to find out what their own sweet moments of doing nothing might be and what images this brings to mind,” adds Lukas Schulz.

Admission to the exhibition is free.

Project Partners

Partners Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf Otto Beisheim Stiftung Hoffmann Liebs Max Brown Midtown CCS