If one goes by the unbeatable logic of the RTL soap opera that there are “good times and bad times,” one gets the impression that we, as a global community, are currently in the “bad times” category. Political conflicts, ecological crises, economic uncertainty, and a never-ending stream of bad news shape our collective perception.
The exhibition takes this experience as its starting point. It explores forms of “coping” and getting by—that is, strategies for continuing to live in an unstable and contradictory present. As individual as the coping strategies of the exhibiting artists (and every other person) may be, their collection nevertheless shows that coping is a collective process. This focus on the diverse yet shared experience can make visible what the isolating nature of capitalism quickly makes us forget: Right now, we all just have to get by.
Curated by the muna Kollektiv e. V., the exhibition brings together illustration, sculpture, collage, text, photography, and mixed media by 14 artists: Eva Achternkamp, Ursula Achternkamp, Felicitas Dietl, Franziska Herbert, Eyi Kim, Ji Heaun Kweon, Poppy Luley, Carla Nagel, Katharina Pischedda, Lukas Röber, Pauline Schmitt, Beyza Nur Tolgay, Jackie Youn, and Zyme.

The muna Kollektiv e. V. is a five-member feminist collective based in Mainz that was founded in 2022 with the goal of creating space and visibility for FLINTA (women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, transgender, and agender people) in the creative scene. After numerous exhibitions, readings, and workshops in their own space on Gaustraße, the collective now operates without a fixed location and advocates for a contemporary and equitable cultural scene through participation in local events.