Name: Mikołaj Sobczak. Share and Rule
Start: 2026-09-22T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-09T19:00:00+02:00
Location: Polnisches Institut Düsseldorf

Mikołaj Sobczak at the Polish Institute Düsseldorf: Historical Painting as a Counter Proposal

With Mikołaj Sobczak. Share and Rule, the Polish Institute Düsseldorf presents an exhibition starting on September 22, 2026, that understands historical images not as rigid tradition but as an open field of artistic interpretation. Sobczak, a participant in Manifesta 16 Ruhr, combines painting, video, performative formats, and collage to create art that brings memory, power, queerness, and resistance into new constellations.

Alternative Historical Images with Painterly Force

Sobczak's work represents a precise yet poetic consideration of the past. His multilayered tableau-images stage encounters across temporal boundaries and place marginalized biographies at the center. Historical painting here does not appear as heroic glorification but as a critical stage for alternative scenarios, where repressed voices gain a hearing.

Queer Perspectives, Memory, and Resistance

The exhibition delves into the themes that shape Sobczak's artistic practice: queer and transgender perspectives, religious and political dissent, exclusion, and self-empowerment. In the works, Anabaptist motifs, anthroposophical references, and historical figures intersect, creating a dense exhibition atmosphere where art history, cultural education, and aesthetic experience intertwine.

An Artistic Experience between Painting, Video, and Performance

Sobczak works at the intersection of painting, video, and performative installation. This media openness makes the exhibition exciting: The works invite viewers not only to observe image spaces but to read them. Fragmented biographies, surreal scenes, and collage-like structures culminate in a reflective installation about political visions for the future and the power of narratives.

The Polish Institute Düsseldorf as a Place of Dialogue

As an institutional solo exhibition in Düsseldorf, the presentation unfolds special relevance. The Polish Institute sees itself as a cultural place of transnational exchange, and therein lies the strength of this exhibition: It connects contemporary art with historical depth. Visitors experience an exhibition that intellectually challenges and simultaneously captivates sensually.

Conclusion: An Exhibition that Shifts the Perspective on History

Mikołaj Sobczak. Share and Rule is a compelling artistic experience for all who are interested in contemporary art, historical painting, and socially critical imagery. Those seeking alternative historical images, strong visual language, and curatorially cleverly condensed themes should visit this exhibition live and experience the artistic depth on site.