Mikołaj Sobczak: Divide and rule at the Polish Institute Düsseldorf

Mikołaj Sobczak in Düsseldorf: Historical images as a space for new perspectives

With Divide and rule, the Polish Institute Düsseldorf presents the first institutional solo exhibition of Mikołaj Sobczak in the city. The exhibition is set against the backdrop of Manifesta 16 Ruhr and runs at the Polish Institute Düsseldorf from June 12 to October 9, 2026; admission is free. Sobczak's practice navigates between painting, video, and performance and examines historical narratives from a queer-feminist and politically conscious perspective. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/2026/05/31/mikolaj-sobczak-ausstellung/?utm_source=openai))

An artistic experience between history and the present

Sobczak works with the means of historical painting to question its power and to propose alternative scenarios. In multi-layered tableaux, he combines figures, symbols, and layers of memory; this creates images that do not smooth political history but rather make its fractures visible. The exhibition thus offers an aesthetic experience that sharpens the view for representation, exclusion, and utopian counter-images. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/2026/05/31/mikolaj-sobczak-ausstellung/?utm_source=openai))

Painting, video, and performance as a common language

The artist, born in 1989 in Poznań, studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and the Art Academy in Münster; he received a scholarship at UdK Berlin. His work combines painting, video, and performance and revolves around queer perspectives, memory politics, and the power of historical images. In 2021, he was awarded the Paszport Polityki, and in 2026 he also received the Villa Romana Prize. ([polityka.pl](https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kultura/2154447%2C1%2Crozmowa-z-mikolajem-sobczakiem-laureatem-paszportu-polityki-w-kategorii-sztuki-wizualne.read?utm_source=openai))

What visitors can expect in the exhibition

Central works from various creative phases are the focus, revealing Sobczak's engagement with heterodoxy, Protestantism, anthroposophy, and contemporary politics. The exhibition invites viewers to contemplate the works and opens a precise view on the interplay of visual power, memory, and cultural education. The Polish Institute Düsseldorf sees itself as a place for German-Polish cultural exchange, with a gallery, library, and public program. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/2026/06/22/polnische-kunstler-und-kuratoren-bei-manifesta-16-ruhr/?utm_source=openai))

Conclusion

Divide and rule is an exhibition for everyone who wants to experience art as a space for thought: visually powerful, intellectually engaging, and contemporary. Those interested in historical painting, contemporary art, identity, and memory will find a concentrated artistic experience that unfolds most strongly on-site. A visit is definitely worthwhile. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/2026/06/22/polnische-kunstler-und-kuratoren-bei-manifesta-16-ruhr/?utm_source=openai))

Official channels of Mikołaj Sobczak:

• Instagram: no official profile found
• Facebook: no official profile found
• YouTube: no official profile found
• Website: no official profile found

Sources:

• Polish Institute Düsseldorf – Mikołaj Sobczak Exhibition
• Polish Institute Düsseldorf – Manifesta 16 Ruhr
• Polish Institute Düsseldorf – Exhibition contribution and work context
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland – Social media and photos
• Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf – Polish Institute Düsseldorf
• State Academy of Arts Karlsruhe – Artist profile
• Rijksakademie – Mikołaj Sobczak