What does it mean to have made something yourself? What role does failure play in this? And what does the world of DIY store goods have to do with it? Craftsmen’s sketches are created, discussed and collected and form the core for a presentation in the Kunsthaus; philosophical thoughts are exhibited in the midst of the DIY world, which, according to cultural sociologist Michael Hofmann, promotes our productive imagination and thus helps us to realize our own world. What drives us to make something ourselves? And what is the fascination of the SELF-made? Why is the DIY market so attractive to us?

Oliver Gather has been exploring these questions on his construction site in front of Hagebaumarkt Bruns in Hörstel and has been asking visitors and customers of the DIY store about their projects, plans and ideas since mid-August. During this time, he built a counter-high concrete sculpture in front of the entrance to the DIY store in the form of the lettering SELBST. Visitors were able to watch the artist at work for six weeks. This led to conversations about SELF-making, in which the word sculpture served as a counter for discussion and for sketching (self-made) projects. In over a hundred conversations, Oliver Gather asked for thoughts on DIY. The resulting collection of aphorisms was displayed in the DIY store between goods and price tags.