A new exhibition at the Henry Art Gallery explores the wild art scene present in Cologne, Germany during the 1980s and early 1990s.

The "Make Your Own Life" exhibit explores the cult of personality and thoroughly rejects many traditional art forms and expectations.

The art is a travelling exhibition curated by Bennett Simpson for the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Philadelphia last year.

The exhibit works to represent the international scene present in Cologne, bringing together the work of more than 25 artists from Cologne, Berlin, New York, Los Angeles and London. Artists include Martin Kippenberger, Merlin Carpenter, Andrea Fraser and Mike Kelley.

"This exhibit is certainly very diverse, and I think that some of the pieces are really cool," said Cathey Artzt, a student at Seattle Central Community College. "There is a great mix of old and new here and I like the fact that the sculptures are very interpretive."

Cologne in the 1980s and early 1990s was a place of extreme individuality and self-consciousness. The relationship between the identity of the self and community is one of the key themes explored by the exhibit.

Also central to the art scene in Cologne was the belief in making the artist's life and context the foundation for their artistic practice.

As artist Martin Kippenberger said when referring to this idea, "To achieve this you must make your own life the basis!"

The crossover between art and music was a large part of the scene in Cologne and this is made clear in the exhibit with many of the pieces incorporating some form of musical expression. The exhibit features a listening gallery where spectators are able to play records from the era including "The Red Krayola," "Van Oehlen" and "Workshop."

Gallery administrators believe this alternative exhibit is well suited to the gallery's audience.

"This exhibition is certainly good for the Henry Art [Gallery] because here we aren't afraid to show art which asks a lot of questions that [doesn't] have easy answers," said Betsey Brock, communications and outreach manager at the Henry. "Students should feel free to come in and interpret the exhibit in their own way."

The exhibit isn't straightforward and can be interpreted in many ways, Brock said.

"It is very difficult to convey the spirit of this time, as a lot of what went on took place in the bars of Cologne, as well as in the galleries," Brock said.

Reach contributing writer Jessalin Fraser at news@thedaily.washington.edu.