The work is staged in a completely darkened hall. On the front wall, staggered panels of transparent silk voile serve as projection surfaces. This results in a spatial depth and softened landscapes. A new motif is shown every three minutes. You can see untouched landscapes, in the form of historical black and white photographs from Germany, most of them dating around 1920.

During the projection the curtains billow lightly in the air and the room is filled with soft, melodic and full-sounding instrumental music from large string orchestras. The music is played on an audio system.

The audience sits on simple swings made up of seating boards and very long ropes distributed throughout the room. During the performance, viewers rock and swing slightly back and forth. The atmosphere is gentle, relaxing and weightless.

Barbara Nemitz, 1985

Beauty and Pain
Landscape Cycle for Swinging
SO36, Berlin-Kreuzberg,1985
Stollwerk Fabrik, Cologne, 1985
ZAKK, Dusseldorf, 1985
die boerse, Wuppertal, 1985
Spot, Kassel, 1991

Beauty and Pain
SO36, Berlin-Kreuzberg, 1985
Photo: Roland Bersdorf
© Barbara Nemitz and VG Bildkunst, Bonn

Beauty and Pain
Stollwerk Fabrik, Cologne, 1985
Photo: Roland Bersdorf
© Barbara Nemitz and VG Bildkunst, Bonn

Beauty and Pain
Swinging Visitors
© Barbara Nemitz and VG Bildkunst, Bonn

Beauty and Pain
ZAKK, Duesseldorf, 1985
Photo: Roland Bersdorf
© Barbara Nemitz and VG Bildkunst, Bonn

Beauty and Pain
Spot, Kassel, 1991
Photo: Roland Bersdorf
© Barbara Nemitz and VG Bildkunst, Bonn

Beauty and Pain
poster
© Barbara Nemitz and VG Bildkunst, Bonn

Beauty and Pain
SO36, Berlin-Kreuzberg, 1985
Photo: Roland Bersdorf
© Barbara Nemitz and VG Bildkunst, Bonn

Beauty and Pain
SO36, Berlin-Kreuzberg, 1985
Photo: Roland Bersdorf
© Barbara Nemitz and VG Bildkunst, Bonn

Beauty and Pain
Swinging Visitors
© Barbara Nemitz and VG Bildkunst, Bonn

Beauty and Pain
Spot, Kassel, 1991
Photo: Roland Bersdorf
© Barbara Nemitz and VG Bildkunst, Bonn