During her artist residency at the Bangkok Kunsthalle in January 2026, Mafalda von Hessen produced a series of 27 new works while engaging with the local context and community. In “Splendor in the City” von Hessen turns her attention to Bangkok’s urban landscape, observing the coexistence of electrical wires, trees, and the sky as a layered ecosystem suspended above daily life. Through pencil drawings that function as a visual diary, the works record her experiences during her residency in the city, inviting viewers to look up and notice the beauty found in the tangled, interwoven lines that stretch across and connect Bangkok.
Splendor in the City
Commissioned by Ammo’s Kids publishing house, this special project is a children’s illustrated book centered on the story of a young girl. The Porcelain Girl, written by Petros Gaitanos and set to be published in November 2025, features illustrations by Mafalda von Hessen. Her contribution draws directly from her signature artistic language: richly adorned interior scenes and a figurative style that blurs the line between realism and imagination. The book becomes a natural extension of her practice, where storytelling and visual composition converge to bring the narrative to life.
Commissioned by Ammo's publishing house.
