We are taking the death of Stefan Plenkers as an opportunity to focus on a certain era in Dresden - an era that was characterised by breadth, diversity and great creativity. We are pursuing this theme in our upcoming exhibition and also refer to the travelling exhibition “Dresden heute” (1986), in which works by Hubertus Giebe, Herta Günther, Angela Hampel, Gerhard Kettner, Stefan Plenkers, Gerda Lepke and Max Uhlig were shown in several German institutions and also in Switzerland.

In our new exhibition, we are allowing several artists from “Dresden heute” (1986) to enter into correspondence with works by the next generation and the generation after that: Ralf Kerbach and Mona Pourebrahim. The presentation will also be accompanied by artists from the Baden-Württemberg region, namely Martina Geist and Eberhard Freudenreich.

‘When you hear the news, you can get scared ...’

With these words, Heinz Rabbow describes his motivation to counter the darkness of the world with colourful images - works that give hope, give courage and make the beauty of everyday life visible.
His mostly female figures mesmerise us with their quiet presence. Not idealised, but strong, dignified, concentrated - they speak a language of stillness. Despite their reduced colour and form, they appear haunting and close.
Rabbow's art is not a retreat from the world, but a response to it: calm, poetic, hopeful. His pictures counter the noisy present with a quiet strength - as an encouragement not to lose sight of the beautiful.
The exhibition will open on 19 September in the presence of the artist and will be on display in our exhibition rooms at Richard-Wagner-Str. 51 until 8 November 2025.