Shelving on the wall in LINDA forms the words "it's ok to hang around." That sums up the feeling in the small gallery in Hamburg's Sankt Pauli neighborhood, which is best known for its red light district.

Four years ago, Oliver Goernandt and 10 other co-founders stumbled across the location, which he refers to as an experimental area, a room of culture, and a place to think.

"I always like to find places where you can sit and contemplate," said Goernandt, a blonde mid-30-year-old in shorts and a t-shirt. For him, "contemplation" means sharpening one's eye for detail and exploring the surroundings at a new level.

Art incorporates the past

The black tiles covering the exterior of the building, the faded letters of the word "spirits" hanging above the door, the refrigeration room in the cellar, and the large exterior windows - all these signs of wear and tear attest to the aim of not to letting the new art erase the spirit of the gallery's previous residents.

Quite the opposite: Art should incorporate the past and the surroundings, according to LINDA's founders.

"I think it is best when the windows are included in the exhibition," comments Goernandt.

The concept of art hanging in shop windows particularly appeals to him. This way, passing trade can gaze at the pieces for a while and come in if they find them interesting - just like in a shop.

"Occasionally, some people even buy something," said Goernandt.

A non-commercial concept

The more expensive items, like oil-paintings that go for around 3,000 euros, are not the gallery's best-selling items. Instead, it's the so-called "multiples" that have proven to be a hit with customers. These are mass-produced pieces of art fetching anywhere between 20 and 150 euros.

The current exhibition, called "Adoration," consists of a collection of striking photos by young, unknown art students. A single photograph can go for up to 600 euros.

But selling isn't part of the philosophy at LINDA, which is why Goernandt is reluctant to refer to his exhibition space as a gallery.

"For me, the word 'gallery' has always held a professional meaning: 'the curator and the artist make a living from it', but that is certainly not the case here," he said.

If LINDA is not a gallery, then it can't have curators. Instead, the team is made up of self-labeled artists, comic enthusiasts, lecturers, and musicians.

Each of the 23 exhibitions held inside the room of "contemplation" is organized by one of the "godparents of art," as the LINDA team members joking refer to themselves. A godparent is responsible for putting on the opening ceremony and is present for one day of the week. The rest is left to the exhibited artist.

Matured art

On the other side of the street is a similar art room, which has been resident in Hamburg's most infamous district for quite some time now. Making and displaying art in Sankt Pauli has gone from being unusual to rather trendy.

But LINDA has matured over the past four years: Not every opening requires a DJ and not every exhibition needs an opening party.

It's the art that takes center stage here. But, according to Goernandt and his team, whoever wants to just come by and kill time is most welcome. After all, "it's ok to hang around."

Author: Elena Singer / Andrew Shale

Editor: Kate Bowen