When does the exhibition start?

The exhibition can be visited on November 10, 2026, from 10 AM at the Wendish Museum Cottbus.

How long will the exhibition be on display?

The exhibition is announced to be up until February 21, 2027.

How much does the admission cost?

The researched admission price is 5 Euro.

Where is the Wendish Museum located?

The museum is located at Mühlenstraße 12, 03046 Cottbus.

What themes are showcased in Denis Galloway's exhibition?

Historical images of fieldwork, market activities, women and children, weddings, and Sorbian-Wendish costumes can be seen.

Is the exhibition suitable for art historical examination?

Yes, the presentation connects historical photography, ethnographic documentation, regional cultural history, and aesthetic examination.

Discover Faces of a Time: Historical Photography and Sorbian Life Worlds in Cottbus

Name: Denis Galloway – Woblica ze zajźonego casa / Faces of a Time
Start: 2026-11-10T10:00:00+01:00
End: 2027-02-21T17:00:00+01:00
Location: Wendisches Museum Cottbus / Serbski muzej

Faces of a Time: A photographic journey in the Lusatia

The Wendish Museum Cottbus presents, for the first time, a selection of around 200 glass negatives from the Scottish ethnographer, photographer, and artist Denis Galloway. The exhibition opens a compelling view of Sorbian-Wendish life in Lower Lusatia and the Spreewald at the beginning of the 20th century.

An archive of glass and light

Between 1908 and 1914, Denis Galloway photographed people, working worlds, and rituals in Lusatia and in Wittichenau. His images depict fieldwork, market activities, portraits of women and children, as well as significant life events such as weddings. Historical photography combines ethnographic accuracy with a remarkably close examination of the work.

Faces, costumes, and lived memory

The diverse variations of costumes appear particularly impressive, as these authentic forms are rarely seen today. Body postures, facial expressions, fabrics, and textile details coalesce into a visual archive of regional identity. Each photograph preserves an individual story while simultaneously referring to social relationships, language, customs, and communal life.

Photography between documentation and aesthetic experience

The materiality of the glass negatives gives the images a special aura. Light, contrast, and fine details make visible how closely documentary precision and artistic attention intertwine. The exhibition invites a slowed-down examination of the work and transforms historical photography into a contemporary art experience.

Cultural education and regional anchoring

At the Wendish Museum, Galloway's photographic archive enters into a lively dialogue with the culture and history of the Sorbs and Wends. The presentation complements the museum's own engagement with language, literature, costumes, music, art, and customs. This creates an exhibition that connects art historical classification, culture of remembrance, and cultural education.

A European cultural heritage

The original glass negatives arrived at the Ethnographic Museum in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in 1950. Later, they were digitized and made accessible via the online portal Europeana as part of European cultural heritage. In Cottbus, Galloway's Lower Lusatian images are now being shown for the first time in printed form.

Conclusion: An exhibition as an encounter with past life worlds

Denis Galloway – Woblica ze zajźonego casa / Faces of a Time combines historical photography, ethnography, and regional cultural history into a concentrated aesthetic experience. Visitors discover faces, costumes, and everyday scenes with great intimacy and gain a new perspective on the Sorbian-Wendish history of Lusatia. Those who wish to experience photographic art, culture of remembrance, and cultural identity firsthand should definitely visit this exhibition live at the Wendish Museum.