Mikołaj Sobczak: Divide and Rule at the Polish Institute Düsseldorf

Mikołaj Sobczak in Düsseldorf: An exhibition about power, memory, and new images of history

With “Divide and Rule”, the Polish Institute Düsseldorf presents the first institutional solo exhibition of Mikołaj Sobczak in the city. The presentation brings together key works from various phases of his work and fits within the framework of Manifesta 16 Ruhr. Sobczak combines painting, video, performance, and installation works into an artistic experience that questions historical narratives and makes alternative scenarios visible. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/pl/2026/07/07/mikolaj-sobczak-teilen-und-herrschen/))

Historical painting as contemporary criticism

Sobczak works with the conventions of history painting to simultaneously open them and subvert them. His multifaceted, often surreal image spaces present historical and contemporary figures in unusual constellations. This creates a visual language that does not rely on clear hero images, but rather on ambivalence, rupture, and friction. The result is an aesthetic experience in which art history appears as a living question of dispute. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/pl/2026/07/07/mikolaj-sobczak-teilen-und-herrschen/))

Queer perspectives and marginalized stories

A central concern of the artist is to make marginalized groups visible. The exhibition emphasizes queer and trans perspectives, questions memory politics, and who tells history and who becomes visible in it. Sobczak's work connects political and cultural education with an imagery that consciously works against forgetting. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/pl/2026/07/07/mikolaj-sobczak-teilen-und-herrschen/))

Between painting, video, and performative presence

Mikołaj Sobczak was born in 1989 in Poznań and primarily works with painting, video, and performance according to verified profiles. He studied, among other places, at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, at the University of the Arts Berlin, and at the Münster Academy of Fine Arts. In 2021, he received the Paszport Polityki, one of the most important art awards in Poland. These biographical milestones shape a practice that combines formal virtuosity with social analysis. ([artmuseum.pl](https://artmuseum.pl/en/artists/mikolaj-sobczak?utm_source=openai))

What visitors can expect

The exhibition offers a dense examination of works with strong images, intellectual tension, and a clear view of the political dimension of art. Those interested in contemporary painting, memory culture, and curatorial positions will find a reflective yet sensual approach to contemporary art here. A visit is especially worthwhile for anyone who wants to experience exhibitions as a space for thinking and seeing at the same time. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/pl/2026/07/07/mikolaj-sobczak-teilen-und-herrschen/))

Conclusion: “Divide and Rule” opens a fascinating space between historical image and present, between archive and imagination. This exhibition invites a reevaluation of power relations and an experience of art as a space for insight. Definitely visit live. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/pl/2026/07/07/mikolaj-sobczak-teilen-und-herrschen/))

Official channels of Mikołaj Sobczak:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polish_institute_duesseldorf/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/PolnischesInstitut
• Website: https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/

Sources:

• Polish Institute in Düsseldorf - Exhibition text and details
• Polish Institute in Düsseldorf - Manifesta 16 Ruhr and free admission
• Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw - Artist profile Mikołaj Sobczak
• Rijksakademie - Alumni profile Mikołaj Sobczak
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Poland - Social Media and Photos