Luther for everyone
Insights, explorations, events: avant-garde art in the clink, a journey through world history, exhibits for 3D printing – on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, many ways lead to Martin Luther.
Germany. 500 years Reformation: in the big anniversary year, numerous exhibitions and projects treat the historical influence of the Reformation and the reformer Martin Luther. Creative and critical encounters with a man who changed the world.
Luther for intellectual pioneers
An unusual place, an exciting concept: in the Old Prison in the Luther city of Wittenberg, 67 international artists have created a space – or better, many cells – for the encounter between contemporary art and the Reformation. Luther and the Avant-Garde is the name of the exhibition, which promises to be interesting and assuredly not particularly holy. It is about the impact of artists today and very topical issues such as fake news, the new media, and religious conflicts. Taking part are many well-known artists – Ai Weiwei, Stephan Balkenhol, Olafur Eliasson, Isa Genzken, Jonathan Meese and Sun Xun. The exhibition has branch shows: in Berlin, the British artists Gilbert & George are exhibiting at St. Matthew’s Church. And in the documenta city of Kassel, the Indian artist Shilpa Gupta is presenting an acoustic room installation on the theme of power in the digital age.
19 May to 17 September 2017, Altes Gefängnis Wittenberg (Old Prison, Wittenberg)
Luther for people of strong opinions
For the debate book 95 Anschläge – Thesen für die Zukunft (95 Propositions – Theses for the Future), 95 clever people have written down their thoughts on the great questions of the day, among them the author Thea Dorn, the actor Edgar Selge, the writer Juli Zeh and the film-maker Caroline Link. It is about values, attitudes, contemporary tenets. An intellectual delight. There will also be readings from the book in several cities.
The book can be ordered for € 4.50 from the Federal Agency for Civic Education.
Luther for the worldly
A journey through the history of five centuries and four continents: the German Historical Museum in Berlin invites the public to an exploration of the global impact of the Reformation: Der Luthereffekt. 500 Jahre Protestantismus in der Welt (The Luther Effect: 500 Years of Protestantism in the World). The exhibition is one of three special national exhibitions; the other are Luther und die Deutschen (Luther and the Germans) in Eisenach and Luther! 95 Schätze – 95 Menschen (Luther! 95 Treasures – 95 People) in Wittenberg.
Until 5 November at Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin, www.3xhammer.de
Luther for Digital Natives
No time, no desire, no opportunity to go to an exhibition? No problem! One of the most exciting ways to approach Luther is through the Web. How did the great Reformer live? What effect does the Reformation have on the present? The digital exhibition Here I Stand... gives answers to these and other questions in German and English, and with many interactive charts. The highlight: the site offers museum objects for 3D printing.
Luther for wordsmiths
“Lückenbüßer” (make-weight), “Feuereifer“ (ardent zeal), “Lästermaul“ (scandalmonger), “Sündenbock“ (scapegoat) – Martin Luther re-invented the German language and coined many strong and trenchant expressions and vivid phrases besides. Following in his footsteps, young talents will give their best in the Poetry Slam series machtWORTE (powerfulWORDS). The finale takes place on 28 September in Wittenberg; here is a foretaste.
Luther for the strong-voiced
The pop oratorio Luther of the Creative Kirche Foundation is on tour through Germany. At each venue, a new choir with 3,000 singers is assembled. The work includes traditional chorales and twenty newly composed songs.
Feature: 500 years of Reformation
More information on events for the anniversary of the Reformation at www.luther2017.de
