Martina Geiger‑Gerlach

„Arbeit am Kopf“

„Arbeit am Kopf“(Work on the Head)
An Interdisciplinary Intervention and Campaign
in Defense of Democracy with the help of Hairdressers

‚Arbeit am Kopf‘ (Work on the Head) seeks to translate the surprising research findings of Oxford climate scientists Dr. Sam Hampton and Dr. Briony Latter into practice. The two discovered that hairdressers can influence people‘s thoughts and actions more effectively than science itself.
If this often underestimated and underpaid profession—with its unique capacity for empathy, listening, and communication—can, as if in passing, also nurture the inner beauty of our society, could it save the climate and our democracy alike?

“Help us quickly mobilize this untapped potential! Inform your hairdressers and your community about the immense power of salon conversations. Encourage everyone to consciously use these one-on-one dialogues to defend our democracy or for constructive climate discussions. Thank you for your invaluable contribution to our collective ‘Arbeit am Kopf’ (Work on the Head).” (Excerpt from the campaign flyer)

Intervention | Campaign
Work in Progress, Start Nov. 2025
Various formats

Featured by the University of Oxford
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„Arbeit am Kopf“ (Work on the Head):
The Pilot Project | 2025

Setting: An improvised hair salon with a discoursestimulating reading table, completed with Hampton/Latter’s study and their official opening message.
Program: Salon opening with ad-hoc haircuts | workshop “Competent Against Right-Wing Rhetoric!” (State Agency for Civic Education BW) | Project presentation at the Hairdressers' Guild; open salon

Kindly supported by BB Stiftung
Photos Slider : 1 - 6, 9: Martina Geiger-Gerlach © VG Bild-Kunst Bonn, 7: © Lothar Heinrich, 8: © Dominique Brewing, 10: privat

„Arbeit am Kopf“

„Arbeit am Kopf“ (Work on the Head):
The Indoor Promotional Booth | 2026

Photo installation, 126 × 170 × 40 cm.
Photo tableau 30 × 126 cm (C-print on Dibond, wax-sealed), mirrored vanity table with signs of wear (105 × 36 × 76cm), mirror, vase, flower, campaign flyers
„Arbeit am Kopf“

"Arbeit am Kopf" (Work on the Head):
A keynote presentation
for Hairdressers‘ Guilds, Vocational Schools and more | 2026

On an Oxford study regarding the power of salon conversations,
an interdisciplinary art intervention, and the communication training programs provided by the State Agencies for Civic Education. Inquiries: martina@geiger-gerlach.de
Images Dominique Brewing

Read the non-academic report:
Dr. Sam Hampton/Dr. Briony Latter:
"Hairdressers as ‘everyday influencers’"


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„Arbeit am Kopf" (Work on the Head):
UNTANGLING
The street art event

Equipment: Tripod with photo banner, 3 barber chairs, standing mirror, side table with campaign flyers, detangling brush and combs, clothes brush, hand mirror, Hygiene supplies, red carpet with lettering (Can I comb your hair? Free DETANGLE)

Premiere July 24, 2026, 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Schloßplatz Pavilion / Stuttgart
Documentation: Claire Weetman, Gee Collins, Helon Wilson