A kiosk full of surprises: With “Never Mind the Gallery – Here’s the Silky Späti,” Berlin-based artist SILKY, aka Silke Thoss, is bringing her unconventional installation to Cologne-Ehrenfeld. In a storefront on Venloer Straße, an oversized “Späti” is taking shape—stocked with a variety of handmade products and objects made of paper.
From chocolate bars to beer bottles and bags of chips to canned food and ice cream from the freezer: At first glance, everything resembles the familiar assortment of a corner store. Only at second glance and upon closer inspection do the differences become clear. Sometimes humorous and exuberant, sometimes cryptic and socially critical, SILKY takes aim at the material world of everyday life.
In doing so, the artist doesn’t just focus on the temptations of consumerism. Social issues also find their way into the installation. Elements of the art and music scenes intersect with everyday life, intoxication, and the romance of the “Späti”—transforming the replica kiosk into a walk-in total work of art.
At the same time, the Späti highlights the significance of the space as an urban gathering place. Whether it’s a Cologne “Büdchen,” a kiosk, a “Trinkhalle,” or a Berlin “Spätkauf”: the small shop is a social space, a neighborhood gathering spot, and sometimes even part of the nightlife. It is precisely this microcosm that SILKY brings into the exhibition space.
Since 2020, the project has been on display in Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Zurich, Bremen, Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Munich, among other cities. Now, SILKY’s Späti is making a stop in Cologne-Ehrenfeld from October 3 to November 14, 2026.
From chocolate bars to beer bottles and bags of chips to canned food and ice cream from the freezer: At first glance, everything resembles the familiar assortment of a corner store. Only at second glance and upon closer inspection do the differences become clear. Sometimes humorous and exuberant, sometimes cryptic and socially critical, SILKY takes aim at the material world of everyday life.
In doing so, the artist doesn’t just focus on the temptations of consumerism. Social issues also find their way into the installation. Elements of the art and music scenes intersect with everyday life, intoxication, and the romance of the “Späti”—transforming the replica kiosk into a walk-in total work of art.
At the same time, the Späti highlights the significance of the space as an urban gathering place. Whether it’s a Cologne “Büdchen,” a kiosk, a “Trinkhalle,” or a Berlin “Spätkauf”: the small shop is a social space, a neighborhood gathering spot, and sometimes even part of the nightlife. It is precisely this microcosm that SILKY brings into the exhibition space.
Since 2020, the project has been on display in Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Zurich, Bremen, Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Munich, among other cities. Now, SILKY’s Späti is making a stop in Cologne-Ehrenfeld from October 3 to November 14, 2026.
Payment methods
- Entrance Free
Eligibility
Suitable for any Weather
Target Group Adult
for individual guests
