As a member of the artists’ collective Mülheimer Freiheit (Mülheim freedom) during the early ’80s, Walter Dahn was one of the leading figures among the so-called Neue Wilden, whose neo-Expressionist paintings, with their vivid coloration and primitivistic narratives, brought the movement such fame. In 1984, however, Dahn moved almost entirely away from painting with brushes and paint, choosing instead to follow in the tradition of his teacher Joseph Beuys by creating installations and performing at various sites.

For some time now, painting has again formed an integral part of Dahn’s project. At