One of the women who have achieved great renown in the art scene is Katharina Sieverding. Since the 1970s, she has been creating large-format montages on current social issues. Her best-known works include the photographic work “Schlachtfeld Deutschland” (Battlefield Germany) from 1978, a statement on the RAF era, and the poster campaign “Deutschland wird deutscher” (Germany becomes German) in 1993 in Berlin, which addressed the radical right-wing attacks after the fall of the Berlin Wall. An interview with the artist about art in times of the pandemic, her teacher Joseph Beuys and her political statements. 

As Director General of the Japan External Trade Organization JETRO Düsseldorf, Dai Ueda acts as a link between German and Japanese cooperation partners. In October 2020, the Tokyo native was sent to the state capital for the second time to promote foreign direct investment to Japan as well as the export and expansion of Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises in foreign markets. The 58-year-old passionate hobby violinist and Robert Schumann fan lives here with his wife and daughter.

As artistic director, Michael Becker has since 2007 provided the Tonhalle Düsseldorf with a profile that is unique in Germany. VIVID editor Rainer Kunst spoke with the musician and journalist about concert hall business in times of the pandemic, the art of simple communication and a rather loyal international audience.