The project is the result of a creative collaboration between Michael Strogies and the Döll Piano House in Hanover, Germany. The result is a piece that symbolises a new beginning for society. Old values are combined with the new ideas and demands of a modern society. What is initially irritating nevertheless creates a special fascination.
The venue for the exhibition was the ‘Aufhof’ in Hanover, a former Kaufhof building that was used as an open space for urban projects and city communication during a transitional period. The ‘Aufhof’ closed its doors from 24 July 2024.
But the ‘Aufhof’ was more than just an experiment. It was an opportunity to revitalise the city centre and to make a fresh start. Thanks to the support of the owner SIGNA, we were able to utilise the vacant space flexibly and in a way that was close to the people. The events were organised in collaboration with the state capital of Hanover, Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts and hannoverimpuls.
The plastic project: the reincarnation of a grand piano
At the centre of the project is a SCHIMMEL baby grand piano, which stands symbolically for sustainability. This instrument, manufactured in the 1960s, consists of around 12,000 individual parts and was the result of about one year of painstaking manual labour. The grand piano has been played by numerous young artists and a foundation and has made many wonderful concerts possible.
Now, after the soundboard has cracked several times and the bridge is also broken and no longer plays any sound, this grand piano is being retired and has become an art object. As a restoration would be too expensive and could not generate a reasonable selling price, the owners decided on an alternative future for the grand piano. They asked the creative artist and conceptual designer Michael Strogies to reincarnate this special instrument.
The idea behind the project is to create ART MATERIAL from plastic. The artist combines the grand piano, made from the valuable materials wood and metal, with materials that we usually describe as packaging waste. These materials, as we recognise in terms of sustainability, are our valuable materials of the future.
