Vera Mercer: Neo-Baroque photographic art in the Ludwigsburg Royal Palace!

Vera Mercer: Neo-Baroque photographic art in the Ludwigsburg Royal Palace!

As part of the Ludwigsburg Castle Festival, the exhibition by Vera Mercer, a remarkable artist who took photographs in Paris in the 1950s, will be a cultural highlight. The show, which is organized by the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele gGmbH in cooperation with the Schlichtenmaier Gallery, opens its doors from June 1st to July 18th, 2025 in the Old Porcelain Manufactory in the Ludwigsburg Residential Palace. The exhibition starts ceremoniously with an opening on June 1st at 5 p.m., and on the days of the concerts the exhibition is accessible one hour before the concert begins.

Vera Mercer, born in Berlin in 1936, initially began training in dance before turning to photography. Her works show neo-baroque still lifes, which often connect to her experiences in gastronomy and culinary art. In her photographs, Mercer addressed, among other things, cow heads, feet and pork sides as well as flowers and food, thereby showing an artistic reflection on enjoyment and food culture. Her influences extend to the Dutch masters of the 17th and 18th centuries, which further enriches her work.

Expansion of the castle festival

From 2025, the program of the Ludwigsburg Palace Festival will be expanded to include visual arts, with the works of an artist being exhibited in the residential palace every year. This innovation reflects the desire to make art tangible in all its facets and to appeal to a broader audience. In the future, Mercer's images will be part of this new direction, which attempts to bridge classical music and visual art.

After moving to Paris in the 1950s and later to New York, Mercer gained international recognition through her photo essays on artists and personalities such as Marcel Duchamp, Samuel Beckett and Andy Warhol. She also recorded documentaries about Eva Aeppli, Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint Phalle. Parallel to her artistic career, she ran numerous restaurants and was involved in the design of murals for catering establishments.

Artistic influences and style

Mercer's work is strongly influenced by the trends in photography in the 20th century, including Pictorialism and documentary photography. While these open up wide possibilities for documentation and artistic expression, Mercer's unique perspective contributes to the diversity of contemporary photography. Her publication “The Boiler Room: The Restaurant and Its People”, published by Distance Verlag, underlines her creative approach to bringing art and cuisine together.

The exhibition invites visitors to engage with a fascinating visual language that combines both historical roots and modern influences, offering a special opportunity to experience the connection between art and everyday life.

For more information about the exhibition and contact details:
Ludwigsburg Residential Palace, Schlossstrasse 30, 71634 Ludwigsburg.
Telephone: (07141) 186400, Fax: (07141) 186450.
Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele gGmbH, Marstallstraße 5, 71634 Ludwigsburg.
Telephone: (07141) 939636, Fax: (07141) 939697.

Further details about Vera Mercer's exhibition can be found on the website of Ludwigsburg Tourism and Castle Festival to find.