When does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition runs from June 12 to October 9, 2026. The date recorded here is August 21, 2026, at 11:00 AM.

How much does the admission cost?

The exhibition is announced as free admission.

Where does the exhibition take place?

At the Polish Institute Düsseldorf, Citadellstraße 7, 40213 Düsseldorf.

What are the opening hours for the gallery?

The gallery is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

Is the building accessible?

According to the institute, the listed building is not accessible, particularly for wheelchair users.

What is the exhibition about?

The exhibition combines painting, video, performance, and installation works and questions historical narratives from queer and socially critical perspectives.

Mikołaj Sobczak unfolds historical images, queer perspectives, and strong presence in Düsseldorf

Name: Mikołaj Sobczak: Divide and Conquer
Start: 2026-08-21T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-08-21T15:00:00+02:00
Location: Polnisches Institut Düsseldorf

Mikołaj Sobczak opens a powerful art experience in Düsseldorf

With “Divide and Conquer”, the Polish Institute Düsseldorf presents an institutional solo exhibition by Mikołaj Sobczak, which explores the intersection of painting, video, performance, and installation art. The exhibition can be seen from June 12 to October 9, 2026, and is part of the context of Manifesta 16 Ruhr. It is announced as an exhibition with free admission. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/2026/05/30/polnische-kunstler-und-kuratoren-bei-manifesta-16-ruhr/))

History Painting as Living Present

Sobczak questions the conventions of history painting and opens the view for alternative historical narratives. His visual worlds combine surreal compositions with political and cultural tensions. Thus, a reflection on his work emerges that not only represents the past but also reorders memory, power, and visibility. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/2026/05/30/polnische-kunstler-und-kuratoren-bei-manifesta-16-ruhr/))

Queer Perspectives and Marginalized Voices

At the center of the exhibition are queer perspectives and the experiences of marginalized groups. The Polish Institute Düsseldorf describes the presentation as an artistic engagement with historical narratives that questions established interpretations and develops new stories about the past. This is where the aesthetic experience of this exhibition lies: it connects art history with social urgency. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/2026/05/30/polnische-kunstler-und-kuratoren-bei-manifesta-16-ruhr/))

An Artist with International Impact

Mikołaj Sobczak, born in 1989 in Poznań, lives and works in Amsterdam and Düsseldorf. He works in the fields of painting, video, and performance and was awarded the Paszport Polityki in 2021; he also received the Villa Romana Prize 2026. His practice is rooted in art history and is also contemporary: it connects counter-images, political imagination, and performative expressions. ([capitainpetzel.de](https://www.capitainpetzel.de/artists/162-mikoaj-sobczak/biography/?utm_source=openai))

Curation, Mediation, and Cultural Education

The exhibition is curated by Krzysztof Kościuczuk. Accompanying educational and mediation projects are implemented together with local communities, allowing the exhibition to resonate beyond mere visits. The institute itself regards itself as a place of cultural exchange between Poland and Germany. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/2026/05/30/polnische-kunstler-und-kuratoren-bei-manifesta-16-ruhr/))

Visiting in Person

The gallery of the Polish Institute Düsseldorf is located at Citadellstraße 7, 40213 Düsseldorf. The gallery opening hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, as well as Thursday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Regarding accessibility, the institute notes that the listed building does not offer barrier-free access for wheelchair users. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/2026/05/30/polnische-kunstler-und-kuratoren-bei-manifesta-16-ruhr/))

Conclusion: This exhibition promises a dense, intellectually stimulating, and visually complex encounter with one of the most exciting voices in contemporary art. Anyone who values painting as a space for thought, historical images as an open field, and exhibitions as an art experience should not miss seeing Mikołaj Sobczak live in Düsseldorf. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/2026/05/30/polnische-kunstler-und-kuratoren-bei-manifesta-16-ruhr/))