When does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition runs from 11.09.2026 to 21.02.2027 at the Wendish Museum Cottbus.

What is the entrance fee?

The entrance fee for adults is 5 euros. Children and teenagers up to 18 years receive free admission.

Where is the museum located?

The Wendish Museum Cottbus is located at Mühlenstraße 12, 03046 Cottbus.

What are the opening hours?

From May to September, the museum is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00, on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 13:00 to 18:00. From October to April, the hours are Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00 and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 13:00 to 17:00.

Is the museum accessible for people with disabilities?

Official information indicates accessibility options. For specific needs, it is recommended to inquire directly with the museum before visiting.

Are there educational programs available?

Yes, the Wendish Museum offers educational programs and guided tours. Visitors can get details directly from the museum.

Photographic Journey Through Sorbian Culture, Costumes and Memory at the Wendish Museum

Name: Denis Galloway – Faces of a Time
Start: 2026-09-11T12:00:00+02:00
End: 2027-02-21T18:00:00+01:00
Location: Wendisches Museum Cottbus / Serbski muzej

Photographic Journey into Sorbian-Wendish Memory

At the Wendish Museum Cottbus, Denis Galloway – Woblica ze zajźonego casa / Faces of a Time offers a quiet yet incredibly powerful art experience. The exhibition presents a selection of approximately 200 glass negatives by the Scottish ethnographer, photographer, and artist Denis Galloway for the first time, placing everyday culture, traditional costumes, rituals, and regional identity at the center of a sensitively curated examination of his work.

When Photography Becomes a Historical Archive

Galloway's recordings were made between 1908 and 1914 in Lower Lusatia, in the Spreewald, and in Wittichenau. They document not only faces but also life realities: fieldwork, market scenes, portraits of children and women, and weddings. It is precisely this connection of documentary precision and aesthetic density that gives the exhibition its special depth. The photographic material appears here as a visual memory of a region where customs, language, and cultural self-identity are closely intertwined.

Costumes, Gestures, and the Quiet Dignity of Everyday Life

The presentation reveals the diversity of Sorbian-Wendish costumes and focuses on the subtle details in which cultural continuity manifests itself. Fabrics, folds, headgear, and postures unfold an almost sculptural presence in the exhibition. Historical photography thus becomes an aesthetic experience that creates intimacy while maintaining distance. Those who take their time discover, in the rhythm of the image sequences, not only ethnographic documents but also a touching portrait of dignity, work, and community.

A Museum as a Place of Cultural Education

The Wendish Museum sees itself as a competence center for Sorbian/Wendish culture in Lower Lusatia. Its permanent exhibition leads through language, literature, faith, customs, traditional costumes, music, and performing arts, and contextualizes the special exhibition within a larger cultural historical framework. This creates a museum visit that goes beyond mere image observation: it connects art history, regional history, and cultural education to form a reflective art experience.

Atmosphere Between Memory and Present

Especially convincing is the calm, focused exhibition atmosphere. The photographs act as open windows into a past way of life, while also speaking directly to the present. Those who engage with the images experience how photography mediates between archive, art, and collective memory. The exhibition shows not just historical motifs but makes visible how images preserve cultural identity and reinterpret it.

Conclusion

This exhibition is an invitation to rediscover the Sorbian-Wendish heritage through the lens of historical photography. It combines art historical precision with emotional intimacy and offers a visit that educates, touches, and resonates. An event for all who want to experience art, history, and regional culture in its original form.