Welcome to the realm of knowledge in the Baroque era: Stepping onto creaking floorboards into the quiet grandeur of our historical library hall, one is immediately enveloped by the collective knowledge of the Early Modern period. Like stage sets in a Baroque theater, the original bookshelves jut into the space, housing around 50,000 books from all fields of knowledge. Behind unassuming book spines lie remarkable treasures, such as the first German Bible printed in America.

At the end of the 17th century, the orphanage's library was established as one of the first public libraries in Germany. Primarily through donations, book exchanges, and their own publications, the library grew so rapidly that within a few years, it was comparable to significant German university libraries. In 1728, it received its own building, which is considered the oldest surviving secular library structure in Germany. Not only in recent times has the library been visited by guests and researchers from around the world: Albrecht von Haller, Johann Joachim Winckelmann, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe all admired its bibliophilic treasures. We present a selection of them for you in rotating cabinet exhibitions in the former reading room of the library.

10 am - 5 pm

The sculptor Christiane Löhr, born in Wiesbaden in 1965, who now lives in Cologne and in Prato, Italy, creates an impressive sculptural and installative cosmos. For this, she uses various materials from nature, which she spatially and architecturally places in a new context. Organic elements such as flying seeds, plant stems, burrs, tree blossoms, or horsehair are used by her as construction material for her unique work. The sculptor rather casually finds all the shaping natural formations to then bring them into a new order and make conscious placements in the space.

 

Wed to Fri from 2 to 5 PM, Sat/Sun from 11 AM to 5 PM

Palace-like, the orphanage rises on Franckeplatz. Then as now, it is the centerpiece of the Francke Foundations. Erected in 1698 as the first building of the school city, it represents a new facet of European Baroque, combining confident representation without extravagant ornamentation and setting the tone for orphanage architecture.

Today, the orphanage is our museum and cultural center. Right from the start, two permanent exhibitions guide you through the history of the foundation and the global impact of Pietism. On the first floor, the former prayer and singing hall surprises with its bright architecture. Today, it enjoys an excellent reputation as a concert hall due to its fantastic acoustics. In the adjacent conference rooms, a photo exhibition showcases the impressive renovation work since the foundations were reestablished in 1991. The second floor is reserved for our changing special exhibitions, which provide insight into important themes of the foundation's history from both a historical and contemporary perspective. Passing through the art and natural history collections in the attic, you reach the balcony via a narrow wooden staircase. Here, a wide view opens up over the impressive ensemble with school buildings from three centuries. There is also a splendid panorama of the Old Town of Halle from here. In the basement, children can explore their own paths in the Krokoseum.

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

What power does the word have? For Halleschen Pietismus, the word was of central importance. On the ground floor of the Historical Orphanage, we show you how August Hermann Francke's reform movement could spread around the world.

Francke developed central reformative goals of Martin Luther's with Halleschen Pietismus. His approach was as clear as it was revolutionary: Every person should find God through their own Bible reading. However, for this to happen, everyone - boys and girls alike - had to learn to read, everyone should be able to afford their own Bible and it should be printed in their own native language. Therefore, Francke established schools for all social classes, printed millions of German-language People's Bibles, and created an international network through which the Bible was translated into many other languages. His educational initiative allowed a broad population to engage with the word. In the 18th-century evangelical parsonages, the authors of the Romantic and Enlightenment periods were highly regarded. A culture of self-reflection spread in Pietism, which was reflected in diaries and personal testimonies, giving us remarkable insights into the spiritual life of people of that time. Symbolically, the power of the word is also evident in the meticulously restored pulpit from the Church of St. Ulrich in Halle, where Francke preached from 1715 and which you can admire in the exhibition.

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Again and again, there have been countermodels to the prevailing canon and the crisis-ridden state of affairs in the history of art. Even today, artists call for breaking rigid thought patterns and expanding consciousness in order to create future visions that lie beyond the limitations of the present.
In the dream state, different realities interact with each other. Compared to what one allows in the conscious waking state, a freer form of perception and knowledge production takes place. There are time jumps, connections between different places – through the power of the subconscious and imagination, alternative realities and utopian future spaces emerge. Engaging with our dreams reveals our joys, fears, and hopes.
In the exhibition What is the dream that makes you dream? dreaming is examined as a path to deeper levels of consciousness. Amid multiple global crises and disturbing news that we receive every day, What is the dream that makes you dream? consciously focuses on optimistic counterpoints that suggest hope, resilience, and healing.

The exhibition organized together with the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven is the largest solo exhibition of Sung Hwan Kim in Europe to date. It features complex installations by the Korean artist, including many video and performance works created in musical collaboration with musician and composer David Michael DiGregorio (alias dogr).

The world in stories
In his works, Sung Hwan Kim (*1975, Seoul) weaves multifaceted stories in the manner of a storyteller, using folklore, myths, gossip, and rumors as a means to access his complex installations.

Kim combines video, music, light, performance, drawing, and sculpture in the exhibition space, utilizing a variety of media to change the audience's perspective. In this way, the Honolulu-based artist develops a unique narrative approach to themes such as migration and immigration, translation, and renewal.

“How can one address the issues beyond a national border, let alone the border of one’s own skin?” (Sung Hwan Kim)

As an exhibition designer, Sung Hwan Kim creates a unique architectural environment for his installations that illuminate the theme of “Borders” in nuanced ways and explore various states of subjectivity.

Sung Hwan Kim at ZKM
The exhibition »Sung Hwan Kim. Protected by roof and right-hand muscles« brings together Sung Hwan Kim's works from over two decades. It is his largest solo exhibition in Europe to date. Originally produced for the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, Netherlands, it was first curated by Yolande Zola Zoli van der Heide in collaboration with the artist. An opening event for the exhibition took place at Framer Framed in Amsterdam. The exhibition is financially supported by the Korean Art Management Service (KAMS) as part of the "Korean Art Abroad" program. Partners and additional exhibition venues include the ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe and the Bergen Kunsthall, Norway. The exhibition design for the respective venues (including lighting and sound) was developed by the artist in collaboration with David Michael DiGregorio. An accompanying monograph for the exhibition will be published in spring 2025 by the Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König, Cologne, designed by Linda van Deursen and produced in collaboration with the participating institutions.

Wed to Fri 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sat and Sun 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Playing, laughing, being loud, romping, doing nothing – and that in an exhibition house! From September 4, 2024, BAUBAU invites exactly that. In the play space for children designed by artist Kerstin Brätsch, more is allowed than forbidden. Colorful wallpapers, structures, objects, and a range of “Loose Parts” form spaces on the ground floor of the Gropius Bau that do not impose fixed guidelines but are determined by the activities of the children. They dictate the direction and form of what happens here. Thus, this place becomes a space of possibilities that can change day by day.

BAUBAU will launch in September 2024 in a prototype version and will continue to develop and grow over the coming years both inside and outside the Gropius Bau – in close exchange with the children and their wishes, as this is their place.

The Play
All children have the urge to play. This is how they learn to understand themselves and the world. Especially open, self-determined play is of great significance for emotional and social development. The educational concept for BAUBAU is therefore based on the principles of free play: Here, there is time, space, and permission for children to follow their own needs and interests. They are accompanied by playworkers – trained staff who create a safe and supportive environment where children can play freely.

 
The Art
BAUBAU playfully questions what a museum or an art institution should be. The comprehensive spatial design developed by Kerstin Brätsch is full of references and inspirations: elements from her previous works, such as marbling, paintings, or stucco marble work, reappear here in altered forms and materialities. The wallpapers, curtains, fabrics, seating furniture, and climbing structures are inhabited by dinosaurs, fantastical beings, termite mounds, and abstract elements. With their strange, funny, and perhaps a bit eerie shapes, they create an open framework for free play.

Kerstin Brätsch's practice is designed to allow and incorporate influences from outside. While she has previously collaborated with artists or artisans, she now does so in a completely different way with children: She invites the children to reshape and further develop the space according to their own ideas and visions, without the influence of the artist in unpredictable ways.

Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 12:00–18:00
Sat, Sun 11:00–18:00
Tue closed

The rose is a fascinating flower. Not only is it an ornament for any garden and wonderfully fragrant – no, it has also influenced wide parts of life with its symbolic power, such as love, politics, art, mythology, religion, and much more. Furthermore, rose oil and rose water are used in the cosmetics and food industries, and 42 percent of all cut flowers sold are roses, with cultivation in non-European countries and trade being problematic.

As particularly beautiful flowering plants and an indispensable part of the ecosystem, roses can also raise awareness of the pressing issues of the present, such as biodiversity and conservation, and thus the climate problem. All of this is at the center of the exhibition on the cultural history of the rose, while of course the plant and its role in garden culture will not be overlooked.
Interesting objects from the fields of fashion, design, art, as well as everyday life, are meant to convey a sense of the allure that the rose has exerted and continues to exert – even with its dark side.

Scent stations promise an experience for the senses, and several interactive stations make the exhibition an experience for the whole family.

Sponsored by the MWK and the Lüneburg Landscape Association, the VR Foundation of the Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken in Northern Germany, Volksbank Celle, branch of the Hannoversche Volksbank, and the Museumsverein Celle e.V.

Tue - Sun 11 AM - 5 PM

Vernissage: Freitag, 28. Februar 2025 ∙ 19 Uhr
Ausstellungsdauer: 01. – 30. März 2025
Öffnungszeiten: Mi bis So 15 – 18 Uhr + Mi 05. + 19. März bis 20 Uhr
… und gerne nach Vereinbarung

Der Eintritt ist frei!

Ort:
Stadtgalerie – Badehaus im Alten Kurpark
Königsteiner Straße 86
65812 Bad Soden am Taunus

Begrüßung: Dr. Frank Blasch · Bürgermeister
Eröffnung: Michael M. Marks im Gespräch mit den anwesenden Künstlern

Führungen: So, 09. + 23. März um 15:30 Uhr mit Maurice Steinbrück, Kunstvermittler
Vortrag "Wildkatzen": Mi, 26. März um 18 Uhr in der Ausstellung mit Referentin Susanne Steib – BUND, Managerin Naturschutzprojekte

Artenschutz erfordert geschützte Lebensräume! Diese Ausstellung ist einer davon! Verschiedene Künstler:innen werfen einen kreativ-individuellen Blick auf das wichtige Thema. Eine Ausstellung, die versucht, gegen das Handeln der sogenannten „zivilisierten” Menschheit zu wirken. Sie will mit ganz eigenen Statements der Kunstschaffenden Zeichen setzen und gerne mehr Fragen stellen als Antworten geben. Sie lädt nicht nur Jung und Alt zum Nachdenken und Handeln ein, sondern ebenso zum Entdecken, Staunen und Schmunzeln.

In den Haupträumen zeigen wir Werke von Simon Czapla, Matthias Garff, Alexandra Lukaschewitz, Corjan Nodelijk, Irmela Maier, Stephanie Marie Roos, Markus Willeke, Gaby Wormann und Yongbo Zhao.

Im Kabinett zeigen wir Werke von Künstlern der Galerie, die zu dem Thema arbeiten. Mit dabei sind: Jim Avignon, Elvira Bach, Stephan Balkenhol, Piot Brehmer, Kristina Fiand, Raimund Göbner, Olaf Hajek, Johannes Hüppi, Robert Indiana, Suscha Korte, Markus Lüpertz, Nikki Pelaez, Mel Ramos, Marina Sailer, Salustiano, Slava Seidel, Gan-Erdene Tsend, Raymond E. Waydelich.

Mi, Sa und So 15 – 18 Uhr + Mi 05. + 19. März bis 20 Uhr

We all access the internet daily through web browsers. The question of how browsers determine what we experience online has fascinated artists early on. Based on a research project by the KIT Institute for Art and Architectural History on browser art, the exhibition »Choose Your Filter!« provides insights into 30 years of browser development. Here, you can discover and try out browser visions through interactive installations. 

Wed to Fri from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Sat and Sun 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

With the exhibition of Peter Buggenhout, the Waldfrieden Sculpture Park in Wuppertal is launching its new exhibition season on March 8, 2025: The Belgian sculptor presents a total of seven spatially expansive objects from different groups of works in two of the exhibition halls and in the outdoor area of the park. Buggenhout is internationally known for his sculptures, which he forms from discarded materials and which take on shape in space as sprawling bodily forms. The artist refers to his sculptures as "abject things" – as objects that evade familiar cognitive connections and demand more than just a perspective of observation.

The sculptures of Peter Buggenhout, born in 1963 in Dendermonde, Belgium, and living and working in Ghent, consist of things that have been deprived of the use of their original functionality: Waste and artifacts equally form the materials that the artist uses as his working material and from which he composes his objects. Used plastic films, tarpaulins, textile fabrics, newspapers, scrap metal, wood fragments, or organic substances like cow stomachs, horse hair, and dust become components of his works. Buggenhout creates massive forms from these abandoned remnants, which embody the emergence and decay in the immediate presence of the material and its rugged shapes.

Peter Buggenhout, who turned away from painting around 1990 to transition to sculptural designs, has been working for several years in groups of works with different material focuses and overarching themes. The pre-existing, the cyclical, and the temporality of things are fundamental themes that he formulates as diverse sculptural inventories in his groups of works.

His sculptures possess no single view direction; the multi-facetedness of his works is as essential as the significance of the equivalence and simultaneity of their elements. The discarded is always an important part of the foundation of his creation.

Peter Buggenhout about his work:
“The materials I use all have one thing in common: I did not choose them because I liked their shape or appearance. All objects that I find have in common that they do not really refer to a meaning in terms of their formal identity. For example, instead of an old chair, I might use a piece from the chair in such a way that it’s not noticeable what kind of object it was before. This is the quality of waste, so to speak. Dust also possesses this quality. All my working materials are 'abject,' that is, discarded or disgusting… taken from their original state, have lost their form and meaning.”

11 AM - 6 PM, open on all holidays

The representation of the seasons is a centuries-old image for continuity and change. The changes in nature and weather, as well as in customs in the recurring yearly cycle, have always been interpreted as symbols for the fate of humanity and its time. Meanwhile, the seasons themselves are undergoing a change. With climatic changes, many of the traditional motifs are losing their coherence. However, as cultural-historical testimonies, they are becoming increasingly relevant.

Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM - 5 PM

Stopfen, stricken, patchen… Der Kleider neues Leben!               

Artists: Agnieszka Kasztelowicz, Małgorzata Markiewicz, Małgorzata Mirga-Tas, Anne Peschken & Marek Pisarsky, Alke Reeh

Curator: Prof. Dr. Marta Smolińska

In collaboration with CENTRUM KULTURY ZAMEK in Poznań

Opening: Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 7 PM 

January 24 – April 26, 2025

Gallery of the Polish Institute Düsseldorf, Citadellstr. 7, 40213 Düsseldorf

We live in an era of general overproduction. A sign of this is the mountains of clothing that pile up in Africa and South America into garbage avalanches. They are the result of our entanglement in the highly unecological and unethical mechanisms of Fast Fashion. Fast Fashion: these are cheap discount clothes that are sewn in factories around the world, mostly by workers who are forced to work for dumping wages. The quality of the materials is also not the best. Every season, many of us succumb to fashion fever, buy new clothing items, and throw the old ones away. The artists of the exhibition point out that the materials used in Fast Fashion are not biodegradable. They also draw attention to the exploitation of workers in the clothing industry. However, today mere enlightenment is no longer sufficient – the task of art is also to propose strategies that help us reduce overproduction and throw away less clothing that has become boring to us. Art calls for a change in mentality.

Tuesday – Friday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Eine Frau mit Tschador irrt mit einem Koffer durch einen Garten, persönliche Statements werden auf nackte Arme geschrieben, in unendlicher Videoschleife dreht sich der Alltag – 18 iranische Künstlerinnen, die 2023 bereits in der Villa Ichon in Bremen ausgestellt haben, zeigen im März 2025 ihre Video- und Fotokunst in der GEDOK Karlsruhe. Die progressive Präsenz, die poetische Bildsprache und der spielerische Umgang mit traditionellen Motiven sind hervorstechende Merkmale der präsentierten Arbeiten.
Die beteiligten Künstlerinnen sind im Bereich Performance, Video, Foto, Installation und Landart aktiv. Diese Kunstformen haben im Iran einen besonderen Stellenwert, sie bewegen sich meist neben dem offiziellen Kunstbetrieb. Mediale Formen lassen sich im Internet auch international präsentieren. Die aktuellen Bedingungen machen es den Künstlerinnen nicht leicht; Selbstorganisation und Vernetzung sind für sie unverzichtbar. Die Ausstellung gibt den Künstlerinnen aus ihrem Land heraus eine Stimme. Sie lieben ihr Land, wollen dort leben, frei ihre Kunst produzieren und international zeigen.
Die Ausstellung ist eine Veranstaltung der GEDOK Karlsruhe in Kooperation mit dem Künstlerinnenverband Bremen, GEDOK.

Vernissage am Donnerstag, 06.03.2025 um 19 Uhr
Einführung: Michael Dörfler mit Texten von Elke Prieß, Bremen
Grußwort: Verena Meister, Gleichstellungsbeauftragte Stadt Karlsruhe

Führung mit Meggi Rochell am Freitag, 21.03.2025 um 17 Uhr

Mi, Do, Fr 17.00–19.00 | Sa, So, Feiertage 14.00-16.00

03. bis 28.03.2025

Knapp 600 Einsendungen konkurrierten um die begehrten Auszeichnungen. Im Wettbewerb der »Schönsten Deutschen Bücher« wählten zwei Jurys aus Expert:innen in einem aufwendigen Ver-
fahren die 25 schönsten Bücher des Jahres aus.

Die 25 ausgewählten Bücher sind vorbildlich in Gestaltung, Konzeption und Verarbeitung. Sie zeigen eine große Bandbreite gestalterischer und herstellerischer Möglichkeiten sowie wichtige Trends und Strömungen der deutschen Buchproduktion.
In jeder der fünf Kategorien »Allgemeine Literatur«, »Wissenschaftliche Bücher, Fachbücher, Lehrbücher«, »Ratgeber, Sachbücher«, »Kunstbücher, Fotobücher, Ausstellungskataloge« und »Kinderbücher, Jugendbücher« gibt es je fünf Prämierte.

„Fly with me! Fly with me!“, calls Albi, the Alpine swift, who nests under the roof of the Linden Museum during the summer months. On your flight through the permanent exhibitions, you will encounter the transparent kangaroo, hear about an extinct bird, and can listen to the conversation with Seraa, the elephant. Whether in pictures or clothing, made from wood, ceramics, and stone – the animals and their representations tell of the coexistence of humans and animals. This relationship is not always straightforward. On one hand, many animals are admired, revered, and appreciated as companions or domestic and farm animals, while on the other hand, their habitats are also destroyed and they are hunted or displaced.

In the exhibition, illustrator Promina Shrestha brings the animals on the objects to life through her images. During the listening and stamping rally, you will discover together with Albi what the animals have to say, solve puzzles, and collect stamps.

€ 4/3 including permanent exhibitions
Children up to 18 years free

Tue to Sat 10 AM - 5 PM / Sun and holidays 10 AM - 6 PM / Closed on Dec 24, 25, and 31

Welcome to the realm of knowledge in the Baroque era: Stepping onto creaking floorboards into the quiet grandeur of our historical library hall, one is immediately enveloped by the collective knowledge of the Early Modern period. Like stage sets in a Baroque theater, the original bookshelves jut into the space, housing around 50,000 books from all fields of knowledge. Behind unassuming book spines lie remarkable treasures, such as the first German Bible printed in America.

At the end of the 17th century, the orphanage's library was established as one of the first public libraries in Germany. Primarily through donations, book exchanges, and their own publications, the library grew so rapidly that within a few years, it was comparable to significant German university libraries. In 1728, it received its own building, which is considered the oldest surviving secular library structure in Germany. Not only in recent times has the library been visited by guests and researchers from around the world: Albrecht von Haller, Johann Joachim Winckelmann, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe all admired its bibliophilic treasures. We present a selection of them for you in rotating cabinet exhibitions in the former reading room of the library.

10 am - 5 pm

Elisabeth's life unfolds between the anatomical institute and the welfare office. Scarcity is her strongest driving force. In order to earn money - she is a saleswoman for corsets, stockings, and bras - she needs a hawker's license, which costs 150 marks. For this amount, she would like to sell her body to the anatomical institute while still alive, which is not possible. The anatomist feels sorry for her and lends her the money. When he learns that Elisabeth has lied to him, he sends her to prison. But Elisabeth does not give up: young, hopeful, and determined to make her own luck, she fights with all means for her existence.

Ödön von Horváth's play is signed with "A little death dance in five acts": It shows the tragicomic struggle of the individual in a merciless society, in which the marginalized individual no longer plays a role.

A special friendship and the journey to myself | The autobiography of the beloved star of Der Bergdoktor and singer

Bergdoktor star Ronja Forcher tells the touching story of a friendship that changed her life

Since she was 11 years old, Ronja Forcher has captured the hearts of the audience as Lilli Gruber in Der Bergdoktor. Her bright smile and positive, winning personality are now inseparable from the successful series. While fans watch her grow up, behind the shining smile lies a story she has kept to herself until now. Ronja Forcher speaks for the first time about a formative part of her childhood, which she spends in an idyllic valley between meadows and mountains, together with her best friend Sarah. They share everything: their toys, their secrets, their biggest dreams. But Sarah suffers from a rare illness that makes her age at an accelerated pace. And the two girls have to learn early that no happiness lasts forever.

Anmoving biography that inspires courage and offers comfort

In her autobiography, the actress provides previously unknown insights into her life, writing about true friendship, a massive downfall, deep sorrow, anger, love, and endless gratitude.

Doors open at 18:30

Tickets may still be available at local box offices or the evening box office.

Harlem Lake is a Dutch band known for their genre-crossing mix of rock, Americana, soul, and blues, creating a timeless sound that is steeped in authenticity and emotional depth. Since their formation in 2017, the band has built a loyal fan base in Europe with their powerful live performances and unique ability to blend genres. Harlem Lake draws from the 'soulfulness' of blues, the storytelling of Americana, and the raw energy of rock. Driven by a deep commitment to honest expression, Harlem Lake creates music that encourages listeners to embrace their own truths in a world often dominated by facades.
The current lineup of the band – Ashley de Jong (lead vocals), Dave Warmerdam (keyboard), Sonny van den Berg (guitar), Kjelt Ostendorf (bass), and Benjamin Torbijn (drums) – brings a dynamic and emotional energy to their songs and live shows. Harlem Lake has conquered the European stages after winning the European Blues Challenge in 2022. Harlem Lake is known for their engaging, personal connection with the audience, and the shows are full of spontaneity, making each performance feel like a unique experience.
The music of Harlem Lake addresses themes such as authenticity, connection, and self-expression, placing a particular emphasis on breaking down taboos and promoting freedom of identity. Their debut album A Fool’s Paradise, Vol. 1, dealt with these themes, exploring the facades people build and emphasizing the value of honesty and vulnerability. This dedication to authenticity has resonated with fans, who in turn find recognition and comfort in the band's lyrics and stories.
Their latest album The Mirrored Mask, which was released on September 27, 2023, by Jazzhaus Records, builds on this foundation. The songs of the album – from the powerful anthem "Carry On" and the funk-driven "Fooled Again" to the 'road trip worthy' "Crying in a Desert" – highlight the band's evolution and versatility with influences from rock, Americana, soul, and blues. Each song captures a unique emotion, from the intimate, folk-inspired ballad "The Thought of You" to the complex musical journey of the title track "The Mirrored Mask."
As Harlem Lake continues to tour Europe, they invite listeners to immerse themselves in their rich, multifaceted sound and experience their world, where rock, Americana, soul, and blues come together, live.

Doors open at 19:00.