When does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition starts on September 23, 2026, at 11:00 AM and runs according to the institute's information until October 9, 2026.

Where is the venue located?

The venue is the Polish Institute Düsseldorf at Citadellstraße 7, 40213 Düsseldorf.

What art forms does the exhibition showcase?

Works between painting, video, objects, and performance are on display. The focus is on historical narratives and their contemporary disruptions.

Is the exhibition accessible?

The institute refers to an accessibility statement on its official website. Specific details should be checked before the visit.

Are there opening hours for the gallery?

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

What is the admission price?

A specific admission price could not be confirmed in the official sources.

Mikołaj Sobczak opens Düsseldorf's Picture Space between History and Present

Name: Mikołaj Sobczak. Share and Rule
Start: 2026-09-23T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-09T19:00:00+02:00
Location: Polnisches Institut Düsseldorf

Mikołaj Sobczak in Düsseldorf: Historical Images as a Stage for the Present and Memory

With Mikołaj Sobczak. Share and Rule, the Polish Institute Düsseldorf presents the first institutional solo exhibition of the artist in the city. The exhibition brings together key works from different phases of his work and focuses on those image worlds where painting, video, object, and performance merge into a multifaceted artistic experience.

Historical Painting Reinterpreted

At the center is Sobczak's critical view of the conventions of historical painting. His tableaux open up alternative scenarios where real protagonists, historical figures, and symbolic moments collide. Instead of a linear narrative, a fragile web of memory, power, resistance, and identity emerges. It is precisely this open curation of history that makes the exhibition a compelling aesthetic experience.

Queer and Trans Perspectives in Visual Space

Sobczak gives space to marginalized voices and questions established historiographies with a particular focus on queer and trans perspectives. His works engage with surrealism, fragmentation, and performative condensation. Thus, image spaces are created where exclusion, exile, spirituality, and self-empowerment do not appear as marginal themes, but as motors of a new way of experiencing art.

Between Painting, Video, and Performance

The artist, born in 1989 in Poznań, works across media and connects painting, video, objects, and performative expressions. A snippet from the performance The Peasants as well as works like Adam Gawron and Mysteries show how Sobczak condenses, fragments, and reassembles historical material. His practice views art history not as a closed archive, but as a living resonance space for cultural education.

An Artist with International Authority

The exhibition is part of the context of Manifesta 16 Ruhr, in which Sobczak participates. His career includes stops at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, the University of the Arts Berlin, and the Kunstakademie Münster. In 2021, he received the Paszport Polityki, and in 2026, the Villa Romana Prize. This recognition underscores the relevance of his work in contemporary art discourse.

The Polish Institute as a Space for Contemporary Art

The Polish Institute Düsseldorf sees itself as a cultural interface between Poland and Germany. The gallery presents exhibitions, talks, and mediation formats in an environment that combines art education and international perspectives. Thus, the exhibition not only offers an encounter with a strong artistic statement but also with a place where contemporary art is publicly negotiated.

Conclusion: A Visit Is Worth It for Those Who Want to Experience Art as Thinking in Images

Mikołaj Sobczak. Share and Rule promises an exhibition full of narrative tension, historical depth, and visual intensity. Those interested in painting, contemporary art, memory culture, and queer history will find an exhibition that intellectually challenges and sensually convinces. A visit to the Polish Institute Düsseldorf is definitely worthwhile.