IMAGINARIUM

The new temporary exhibition at the GRIMMWELT Kassel from 9 May to 13 October 2024 will bring to life the world of Czech puppet and travelling theatre, its art, and the fairy tales and stories that go with it.

The fantastic and mysterious stage sets of the Forman Brothers' theatre resemble fairy tales, tempting one to enter them and explore them playfully. Visitors are highly welcome to take an active role and try things out at the IMAGINARIUM exhibition!

The GRIMMWELT presents a wide range of stage sets, playful objects, inventions, dreamlike rooms and impressive installations, transporting visitors into a world of fantasy, dreams and fairy tales. Interactive exhibits made of wood and moving parts create a haptic, sensory experience. The brothers Matěj and Petr Forman, sons of the famous Czech-American film director Miloš Forman, are the founders and impresarios of the Forman Theatre. An important characteristic of this nomadic theatre, which has no permanent stage or company, are the imaginative scenes and backdrops, handmade by artists closely connected to the theatre. Over the thirty years of the Forman Theatre's existence, a unique collection has been created, parts of which are now to be seen in the GRIMMWELT.

The exhibition is aimed primarily at children, young people and families, but is also suitable for all visitors interested in Czech theatre, puppetry and storytelling traditions.

The exhibition catalogue is in the German and Czech languages, and an extensive programme of events is planned.

From 9-14 July 2024 there will be a funfair week, during which artists represented at the exhibition will be present to offer workshops.

The exhibition is sponsored by the city and district of Kassel, the Hessische Kulturstiftung (Hessian Cultural Foundation) and the Deutsch-Tschechische Zukunftsfonds (German-Czech Future Fund).

Participating artists:
Josef Sodomka, Andrea Sodomková, Tereza Komárková, Renata Lhotáková, Martin Lhoták, Pavel Macek, Bärbel Haage, Veronika Podzimková, Barka Zichová, Kristýna Adámek Mlynaříková, Irena Vodáková, Lucie Valaška Bartoňová, Lenka Hájek Kristiánová, Bára Hubená, Miroslav Janek, Zdeněk Hlaváček, Tonička Janková

Curator:
Matěj Forman