Discover the Zita – Shchara Collaborative Installation Exhibition at Schaulager

This exhibition presented a collaborative three-room installation by artists Katharina Fritsch and Alexej Koschkarow titled 'Chamber Piece.' The works explored themes of history, displacement, and power through a dramatic, stage-like arrangement of sculptures and drawings.

Zita – Shchara was a collaborative installation held at Schaulager that functioned as a 'chamber piece' spread across three interconnected rooms. By staging seven individual works, the artists created an ensemble-like atmosphere that invited visitors into a mise-en-scène. Fritsch’s iconic, monochrome, and meticulously finished figures contrasted with Koschkarow’s eclectic, multi-material sculptures, bridging the domestic and the historical. The exhibition's title draws on disparate cultural references—the last Empress of Austria, Zita of Bourbon-Parma, and the Shchara river in Belarus—which serve as metaphors for the cyclical nature of history, conflict, and memory. The installation invited viewers to reflect on deep-seated themes such as exile, the misuse of power, violence, and isolation. While the artists produced their works independently in their respective studios, the coordination of the project relied on an intensive, ongoing exchange that highlighted their differing working methods. Through precise materiality, the exhibition established a tension between Fritsch’s recognizable, concentrated forms and Koschkarow’s complex, multipartite structures, creating a nuanced visual environment that remained open to diverse interpretations.

The exhibition took place in 2016 and is now closed. Information regarding exhibition visits, including guides and leaflets, was provided by Schaulager at the time of the presentation and is available in the archive section of the institution's website for reference purposes only.