The exhibition "In honour of Karl Schmidt-Rottluff - Guardians of the Brücke artist" will open on Tuesday 26 May at 2 pm in the exhibition room of the town hall (ground floor). The denkART gallery's show focuses on three women who have been particularly committed to preserving and visualising Karl Schmidt-Rottluff's cultural heritage:
- Brigitte Pfüller, Chairwoman of the Förderverein zur Rettung der Wohnmühle Karl Schmidt-Rottluff e. V.,
- Sonja Oehlschläger, founder of the foundation in honour of Karl Schmidt-Rottluff Chemnitz, and
- Dr Florence Thurmes, General Director of the Chemnitz Art Collections.
The exhibition opening is open to the public. Diana Kopka from the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz will give a welcoming address. The laudatory speech will be given by Thomas Morgenstern, the former and long-standing head of the monument protection authority. Pupils from the Municipal Music School will provide the musical accompaniment with clarinet and oboe.
Representatives of the media are also invited.
The long-standing commitment of these women has made a significant contribution to making the Karl Schmidt-Rottluff ensemble in Chemnitz-Rottluff visible as an important cultural and historical site and preserving it for future generations. The ceremonial opening of Karl Schmidt-Rottluff's home in April 2025 was the culmination of this endeavour. The exhibition also ties in with the impetus of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025.
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff is one of the most important sons of the city of Chemnitz and one of the most important representatives of German Expressionism. His artistic career is emblematic of the social and cultural upheavals of the period around 1900, and the expressive colours and characteristic formal language of his works reflect new beginnings, change and individual perception - themes that are still relevant today.
The exhibition is also intended as a thank you to all those people who have worked over many years to preserve the cultural assets associated with Karl Schmidt-Rottluff in Chemnitz. One component of the exhibition is film sequences by the Chemnitz Seniors' Film Club with Brigitte Pfüller, Sonja Oehlschläger and Dr Florence Thurmes, which provide personal insights into the joint commitment to cultural heritage.
The exhibition in the town hall is open Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is a co-operation between the city of Chemnitz and the cultural association denkART e. V. The contact person at denkArt e. V. is Christa Winkler (Tel. 0371 402 8130).