A look back at the Detective Show X preview in Aachen in mid-August. An evening of inspiring encounters, fresh impressions, and insightful moments shared with the curatorial team.
Detektive Show X is an open-air exhibition in which visitors use clues to locate art in public spaces in two adjacent parks in Aachen (or AiX-la-Chapelle in French). Location hints, numbers and artists’ names (but no photos!) are published on a digital and printed map to create a route to discover the artworks on site. Existing urban art in public spaces is combined with new works, temporary with permanent, spontaneous with planned art, and the urban space is opened up anew.
tolen concept – originally by John Fekner & friends In 1978, American artist John Fekner organized a legendary art event in Gorman Park in New York: the ‘Detective Show’. Visitors were invited to discover the open-air exhibition for themselves using a list of artists’ names, numbers and locations. About 30 artists had realised works on site. While this legendary underground art event is our main inspiration, let’s not forget that locally, in Aachen, a first open-air exhibition took place as early as 1973. Some things don’t get old.
The Detective Show X took place on August 15th (evening vernissage) and all day on August 16th and 17th, 2025 in Molkepark and Frankenberger Park.
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