In November, Kerber Verlag will publish a book on the PURPLE PATH art and sculpture trail, one of the major, long-lasting projects of Chemnitz 2025, European Capital of Culture. The 256-page volume showcases works by renowned contemporary artists, featuring high-quality photographs, background information, artist interviews and art-historical essays.
↗ Pre-orders are now being accepted.
The PURPLE PATH is an open-air exhibition of contemporary art. It unfolds across the region around Chemnitz, in Central Saxony, the Ore Mountains and the Zwickau area. There, works by over 60 international, national and regional artists come together in a cultural landscape that has been shaped over centuries by mining, craftsmanship and industry. The works on display draw on this history and tell stories of exploitation and solidarity, of change, tradition and ingenuity.
Internationally renowned artists such as James Turrell, Alice Aycock and Daniel Buren are featured alongside contemporary artists such as Leiko Ikemura, Monika Sosnowska, Jeppe Hein and Michael Sailstorfer. They come face to face with influential Saxon figures such as Jana Gunstheimer and Via Lewandowsky, as well as artists from Chemnitz such as Johann Belz, Gregor-Torsten Kozik and Michael Morgner, who have so far remained largely undiscovered in the West.
An in-depth exploration of the subject matter rounds off this first comprehensive presentation of the PURPLE PATH art and sculpture trail. Conversations with the exhibiting artists Olaf Holzapfel, Jan Kummer, Bettina Pousttchi and Hoda Tawakol offerinsights into their artistic practice. An introductory text by curator Alexander Ochs provides context and guidance. In addition, art historian Sarah Alberti examines the role of art in public spaces in East Germany since 1990.
Bibliographic details
PURPLE PATH Art and Sculpture Trail
Publisher: European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH
Publisher: Kerber Verlag
Design: Torsten Köchlin, Joana Katte
Format: 16.8 × 24.0 cm, 256 pages, 180 colour illustrations, softback with flaps
Language: German
Publication date: November 2026
Price: €29.00 (incl. VAT)
ISBN: 978-3-7356-1121-5
Pre-order: kerberverlag.com
