Artists anywhere.
Pieces hidden in Düsseldorf.
Small art pieces will be hidden across Düsseldorf. Each one is made by someone inspired by this city whether you live here or on the other side of the world: painted, drawn, printed, photographed, or crafted in any medium in small format. Every work is sealed flat inside a small glass display cube - the cube is the object the finder takes home.
You don't have to be an established artist - or call yourself an artist at all. If you sketch in the margins, take photos on your walks, print, fold, stitch or paint just for yourself, this is for you. What matters is that the piece is yours.
An honest note: not every submission may end up hidden - the works are chosen so the collection holds together. You'll always hear back before you ship anything, so nothing travels into uncertainty.
Whoever finds a piece keeps it. Through a QR code attached to the piece, the finder can leave a message as the artwork's new owner. On September 30, the project is frozen in time: this website becomes a permanent archive showing each artwork, the place where it was hidden, the message from the person it now lives with, and the artist who made it - with links to your work. The whole journey is also being documented as a short film.
Some pieces may never be found, or be taken by someone who never scans the code. That's part of the story - the archive will say so.
The theme
A work that carries a piece of Düsseldorf as you see it - a place, a mood, a memory, a detail of the city. You don't have to live here: distance, longing, and imagination are inspiration too. Works inspired by Japanese culture are a natural fit given the city's special connection to it.
What is asked of you
- One small work, up to roughly 9x5 cm - about the size of a business card - in any medium. Existing work is completely fine - nothing needs to be made specifically for this project.
- Your work must arrive by September 20 - if it's traveling internationally, plan some buffer.
- If you're not in Düsseldorf, we'll sort out shipping together - a padded envelope is usually enough.
- Permission to use the work within this project only: as the physical piece, on this website, and in the film.
What you keep and what you get
- You keep all rights to your work, always.
- Full credit everywhere the work appears.
- A link to your portfolio or social media, here and in the film.
- One of your works living with a stranger who found it and chose to keep it.
Timeline
| → Sep 20 | Collecting works from artists |
| Sep | Building the pieces, hiding the works |
| Sep 20-30 | Pieces are found; new owners leave their messages |
| Sep 30 | The project is frozen in time and published as a permanent archive |
Join in
I'm Nik - I live in Düsseldorf and I'm making this project and the film about it. If you'd like to take part, have questions, or know someone who might enjoy this - write to contact@hidden.gallery. A short note is enough to start - a link to your work is welcome, but not required. If you're in Düsseldorf, happy to meet for a coffee and tell you more.