Opening: “Propaganda – Flooding the Zone with Shit – It’s About Money, Stupid!”

13.11.2026, 18:00

We cordially invite you and your friends to the opening of the exhibition Propaganda – Flooding the Zone with Shit – It’s About Money, Stupid! at the Frankfurter Kunstverein!

Speaking at the opening:

Johannes Völz (“Aesthetics of Democracy” Research Training Group at the Goethe University Frankfurt and TU Darmstadt)
Maik Fielitz (Institute for Democracy and Civil Society (IDZ) Jena)
Franziska Nori (Director Frankfurter Kunstverein)

 

With the artists: Joshua Citarella (US), Ben Grosser (US), Ganslmeier & Zibelnik (DE/NL/SI), Playfool (Daniel Coppen, UK, and Saki Maruyama, JP) and Oguz Sen (DE).

In collaboration with the Institute for Democracy and Civil Society (IDZ) in Jena and the “Aesthetics of Democracy” Research Training Group at the Goethe University Frankfurt and TU Darmstadt.

Propaganda in the “post-truth” era is loud, fast and emotional. On the streets and online, a battle for hearts and minds is raging. It’s a culture war over opposing world views, over who belongs and who is excluded and, ultimately, over who holds power over whom. And this battle has already travelled from internet forums to the ballot box. Flooding the zone with shit is the strategy of authoritarian populism. Public discourse is flooded with claims, provocations, contradictory narratives and biting memes. Such content spreads particularly easily on digital platforms: whatever attracts attention gets clicked and shared.

How and where do we encounter propaganda today? What strategies, aesthetics and technologies are used to shape people’s beliefs and opinions? Who determines which narratives prevail? Who benefits, politically and financially? Every rumour and every piece of news produces winners and losers: It’s about money, stupid!

We have invited seven internationally recognised artists who have spent years researching propaganda and online subcultures. They navigate the sprawling, emotionally charged communities of the internet and have ventured deep into the rabbit holes of its chaotic worlds of images and ideologies.

 

The opening event is free of charge and open to the public. We look forward to welcoming you!