Art for Peace: Kluge shows the horrors of the war in Chemnitz

Art for Peace: Kluge shows the horrors of the war in Chemnitz

In Chemnitz, the longing for peace is the focus of an insightful exhibition by the renowned filmmaker and author Alexander Kluge. Under the title "Whoever wins, falls off", the new Saxon gallery spans an arch between war and peace and presents current reflections on the current geopolitical situation. As the Freie Presse , the exhibition is described as a vivid implementation of Karl Schmidt-Rottluff Then says: "Every thought that doesn't mean peace today is crime". This sentence dates from 1917 and has lost none of its urgency.

The exhibition, which can be seen by September 21, 2025, includes films, texts and knockout image revisions that cleverly integrated war and peace as part of its sensitive consideration. The 90-year-old Kluge, who himself experienced the war in his youth, allows us to take a deep look into the absurdity and complexity of wars. According to Zeit he sees the war as "demon", which evades control and warns that the belief that you can win the war is an illusion.

personal experiences and their meaning

Alexander Kluge draws parallels to his own experiences, such as the bombing of his hometown Halberstadt at the age of 13. He lively remembers the panic, the sounds and the chaotic thoughts during these attacks. The war in Ukraine, which he pursues through media, becomes another example of the unimaginable reality that people have to go through while looking for an emergency exit. He clearly shows this when he describes the escape of people in Kiev, as in a current contribution by the Federal Center for Political Education .

Kluge is aware that there is no simple solution. He criticizes the arms deliveries to Ukraine and instead pleads for a peaceful dialogue. "It is not enough to only act militarily. We also have to understand the perspective of the other side," he explains. This healthy skepticism could help to set the course for a new and more pacifist approach to leave the pain of the war behind.

an appeal for the future

In times when conflicts and tensions seem omnipresent, Alexander Kluge's message is more important than ever. He demands that the war to be put down by stories, as the storyteller Scheherazade did in "Tausend and a Night". Kluge suggests developing an experimental awareness of the complexity of wars, while at the same time addressing the loss of basic trust and physical sensations during such tragedies. This exhibition is therefore an important cultural event and a necessary step to raise awareness of peace and understanding in our society.