"Görlitz is sooo boring" - this prejudice persists among younger residents. However, the alternative cultural scene in the city on the Neisse is flourishing. This was also the case from November 12 to 14, when KunstMixTape No. 5 finally offered up-and-coming artists a stage again for three days. KunstMixTape, or KMT for short, comprises a colorful cultural program that includes an art exhibition with works of very different styles as well as literature lectures, workshops and live music. The concept is innovative and organized by students of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences.

I asked Luca Thiel - KuMa student and founder and manager of KunstMixTape - a few questions about the history, purpose and organization of this event.

The idea for this came about three years ago together with a friend in Rosenheim, Bavaria, he reports. Originally, the two wanted to open an art bar after graduating from high school. However, this turned out to be too costly to implement, so they planned the whole thing on a smaller scale and instead invited 20 exhibitors to Rosenheim for a single evening in December 2018 and organized a small fashion show. The response was great; the first KunstMixTape attracted 300 visitors. The subsequent events in Rosenheim attracted more than three times as many people, and the fourth KMT finally took place in Görlitz after Luca began his studies in the winter semester of 2019.

With the KunstMixTape, Luca wants to give young, up-and-coming artists in particular a platform:

"I want to give them the feeling that their art is worth seeing and motivate them to keep going."

The still unknown and "unused" artists are also one of the features that make KunstMixTape unique. It is also an event for people of all interests and ages. This makes the KunstMixTape more of an "interactive festival than a classic "boring art exhibition".

When asked how he acquires the numerous artists for his event, Luca tells me that his circle of friends and acquaintances has always consisted of many creative people, making it easy to find contributors. As the KMT became better known, many interested people approached him directly. For the exhibition in Görlitz, he is offering artists from Rosenheim in particular the opportunity to present their work outside of their home town.

In short, I'm pretty impressed by Luca's drive and commitment. I imagine it's very challenging to manage all this alongside a full-time course of study. In fact, Luca does a lot of the work himself, with friends only supporting him in some aspects.

"Most professors know that I have projects alongside my studies that are incredibly important to me, so they turn a blind eye if I don't attend some lectures."

Corona also had something positive for him despite the forced break from KMT. By working exclusively in his fashion label HustlePaff (yes, Luca also has a fashion label!!), he was able to improve and expand his management skills.

On Friday, November 12, KunstMixTape No. 5 was officially opened with a vernissage at the Görlitz Photo Museum. The exhibition impressed with unique art that has a very special charm. From pencil drawings and oil paintings to mixed-media collages and audiovisual works, there was something for every taste and really lived up to the name Mixtape.

I was particularly captivated by a hypnotic 3D projection accompanied by psychedelic sounds. But I was also enthralled by the images. At this point, I would like to highlight my personal favorite, the "Poisoned Pond" by Carmine Iacolare, or the reinterpretation of a classic, "Van Gogh with Pearl Earring" by Sandro Santalucia.

There were also live lectures and an open cultural stage. The day ended with a great atmosphere at the after-show party at Nostromo. Here people danced to the beats of six different DJs until the early hours of the morning.

But there were also numerous program points on the other two days, such as an art space where guests could live out their own artistic vein, tattoos or the fashion show of the labels HustlePaff and BlueTuesday. Be sure to check out the Hustlepaff website and follow @kunstmixtape and @hustlepaff on Instagram!