In their first joint exhibition, the Kunstmuseum and the Historical Museums Heidenheim devote themselves to the animal.

The focus, however, is not on illustrations of existing creatures, but on hybrids, animal deities, new creations and representations of animals in which they exhibit behaviour that is not typical of the species or are shown in unusual situations.

From the lion man, to Chinese dragons, to contemporary paintings, sculptures and installations: The works on display not only testify to man’s great inventiveness. They also provide a glimpse into artistic strategies for the representation of human sensitivities. For representations of animal beings usually do not serve a pure end in themselves, but are always also an expression of a certain understanding of the world.

In the juxtaposition of historical testimonies and contemporary art, continuities but also ruptures become clear. An important concern of the exhibition is to show that artists today are increasingly criticising the speciesist and exploitative behaviour of humans towards non-human animals and calling for a new relationship between the species.

With works by:

Joseph Beuys, Böhler & Orendt, Ingrid Butschek, Marc Chagall, Max Ernst, Tanja Fender, Andreas Greiner, HAP Grieshaber, Wolf J. Gruber, Thomas Grünfeld, Oska Gutheil, Eckhart Hahn, Juliane Hundertmark, Hartmut Kiewert, Joan Miró, Claire Morgan, Pablo Picasso, Maximilian Prüfer, Mary-Audrey Ramirez, Deborah Sengl, Corinna Schnitt, Bernhard Schultze, Sophia Süßmilch, Detlef Willand

As well as works from the collections of the Historical Museums Heidenheim

Fig: Thomas Grünfeld: misfit (Eared Pheasant / Cat), 2016, taxidermy, Valeska von Rosen Collection, © Thomas Grünfeld & VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2023

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