Exhibition celebrates Rilke's 150th birthday: a look at his life!

Exhibition celebrates Rilke's 150th birthday: a look at his life!

What a beautiful occasion to celebrate cultural life! The premises will open from December 1st, 2025 to February 7th, 2026 Oldenburg State Library their doors for the fascinating exhibition “Under so many eyelids”. This will be celebrated on the occasion of Rainer Maria Rilke's 150th birthday on December 4th. Anyone who wants to go on a cultural adventure between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. also has free entry - a lucrative offer for anyone interested in art and literature!

This exhibition is not only about Rilke's personality, but also about the central places in which this extraordinary poet lived and the impact that these places had on his poetic creations. Rilke's biography is discussed, and photographs and accompanying texts are presented that provide insights into an unsettled life full of literary masterpieces.

Insights into Rilke's world

The exhibition is a creative search for traces that illuminates periods of Rilke's life in cities such as Prague, St. Pölten, Worpswede, Arles, Berg am Irchel, Duino, Paris, Saint Maries-de-la-Mer, Venice and Switzerland. It's impressive how Jan Jindra, the Czech photographer and curator of the exhibition, creates not only geographical but also poetic connections with his work.

Jindra, who was born in 1962 and studied at the Prague Film School FAMU, has a good knack for thematically coherent photo cycles. In addition to Rilke, he has also worked on places by Franz Kafka. His book “S Kafkou na cestách” will be published in 2024 and brings out the historical depth of his work.

Rilke's legacy

One of the most important authors of literary modernity, Rainer Maria Rilke was born on December 4, 1875 in Prague. Rilke's life journey begins with a birth name that is almost as resonant as his works. His writings, including masterpieces such as the “Duino Elegies” and “The Sonnets to Orpheus”, are shaped by the influences of his travels and encounters with the people of his time. Rilke was a perceptive person who often returned to inspiring places that opened up new thoughts and perspectives to him.

The exhibition “Under so many eyelids” is organized in cooperation with several institutions, including the Oldenburg State Library, the Federal Institute for Culture and History of Eastern Europe, the Adalbert Stifter Association and the Tomáš Bata University in Zlín. A truly colorful mix of cultures and ideas that gives this exhibition a special setting.

The upcoming festival exhibition is a must for anyone who wants to rediscover the poetry and life of Rainer Maria Rilke and at the same time gain an insight into the artistic vision of Jan Jindra. Mark your date and enjoy this cultural pearl in Oldenburg!