Briefgeheimniss

2026

The painting Briefgeheimniss (Secrecy of Correspondence) engages with the fundamental rights enshrined in the German Constitution: (Artikel 10 Briefgeheimnis). It opens with a striking and powerful image: a figure gazing through a torn envelope, bridging the boundary between interior and exterior worlds. The envelope functions as a symbol of privacy and protected communication — a space that embodies trust and confidentiality, even as it appears visibly damaged.

The reference to Article 10 of the German Basic Law becomes immediately apparent. The constitutional protection of postal, written, and telecommunications privacy guarantees that personal communication remains safeguarded from external intrusion. Yet within the painting, this protected sphere appears fragile and exposed. The figure peers through the torn envelope, simultaneously observing and affected, embodying both witness and subject.

The jeans worn by the figure firmly situate the scene within the present day. They make clear that this is not merely a reflection on a historical right, but on a contemporary reality. The damaged envelope becomes a metaphor for intrusion — whether through surveillance or institutional actions that risk overstepping the boundaries of this constitutional protection.

In this way, the work raises a pressing and essential question: how secure is the confidentiality of our communication today? It serves as a reminder that fundamental rights do not merely exist by default; they must continually be defended, protected, and preserved.

I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this exhibition.