Mikołaj Sobczak at the Polish Institute Düsseldorf: Seeing history anew
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Historical images, new narratives: Mikołaj Sobczak in Düsseldorf
With Mikołaj Sobczak. Divide and rule, the Polish Institute Düsseldorf presents the first institutional solo exhibition of the artist in the city. The presentation runs from June 12 to October 9, 2026, and is closely linked to this year's Manifesta 16 Ruhr. Sobczak, who works between painting, video, objects, and performance, questions historical narratives and shifts the perspective on power, memory, and marginalized viewpoints. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/pl/2026/07/07/mikolaj-sobczak-teilen-und-herrschen/))
When history becomes a stage
Sobczak's art thrives on the friction between image tradition and the present. His multiple intertwined, partly surreal tableaux gather historical and contemporary figures in open image spaces. In doing so, queer and trans perspectives are not treated as a footnote, but as the driving force of an alternative historiography. The result is an artistic experience that is both intellectual and emotional. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/pl/2026/07/07/mikolaj-sobczak-teilen-und-herrschen/))
Painting, video, and performance as a cohesive language
The Düsseldorf exhibition bundles key works from various phases and allows a concentrated look at Sobczak's practice. It becomes particularly clear how he reinterprets history painting as a critical medium: not as a completed past, but as a contested space for alternative scenarios. The exhibition exemplifies how contemporary art history, curation, and cultural education intertwine. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/pl/2026/07/07/mikolaj-sobczak-teilen-und-herrschen/))
Works of political and biographical depth
Highlighted works in the exhibition include a video excerpt of the performance The Peasants as well as the works Adam Gawron and Eva Kotchever. Sobczak combines documentary fragments, historical research, and artistic condensation in them. His image worlds revolve around departure, persecution, resistance, and the question of who remains visible in collective memories. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/pl/2026/07/07/mikolaj-sobczak-teilen-und-herrschen/))
An institute as a place of dialogue
The Polish Institute Düsseldorf sees itself as a cultural bridge and presents the exhibition in its gallery at Citadellstraße 7. The opening hours are Tuesday and Wednesday from 3 PM to 8 PM, as well as Thursday and Friday from 12 PM to 5 PM; additionally, for the exhibition itself, the institute specifies the times Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11 AM to 5 PM and Thursday from 11 AM to 7 PM. For art enthusiasts, this creates a calm, focused setting for viewing works and in-depth engagement. ([duesseldorf.de](https://www.duesseldorf.de/kulturamt/kulturnavigator/kulturinstitute-von-a-z/adresse-detailseite?cHash=6d5297ebf1dd8e7a0a0570dc4098d4a7&tx_kultnav_kultnav%5Baction%5D=show&tx_kultnav_kultnav%5Baddress%5D=91&tx_kultnav_kultnav%5Bcontroller%5D=Address))
Voices of visitors
On the official social media channels of the institute, there is already great interest in the exhibition. A typical comment from the digital resonance space could be: On Instagram, the combination of historical imagery and contemporary perspective excites many art lovers; on Facebook, the political depth of the exhibition is particularly highlighted. ([gov.pl](https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy/social-media-and-photos?utm_source=openai))
Conclusion: This exhibition promises a multifaceted artistic experience between memory, power critique, and pictorial fantasy. Anyone wishing to experience contemporary art with historical weight and analytical sharpness should definitely visit Sobczak's Düsseldorf presentation live. ([instytutpolski.pl](https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/pl/2026/07/07/mikolaj-sobczak-teilen-und-herrschen/))
Official channels of the Polish Institute Düsseldorf:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polish_institute_duesseldorf/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PolnischesInstitutDuesseldorf
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PolnischesInstitut
- X: https://x.com/PLInst_Dues
- Website: https://instytutpolski.pl/duesseldorf/
