Kafka and Birga: Discover dark art in the Lindenau Museum!

Kafka and Birga: Discover dark art in the Lindenau Museum!

On July 3, 2025, an revealing lecture will take place as part of the remarkable exhibition "Stars about Paris - Sergio Birga and the Modernity". The Germanist and philosopher Dr. Friedrich Schmidt will illuminate the connection between Franz Kafka's literary worlds and the visual art at 6 p.m. His gaze is particularly aimed at the influence of Kafka's dark descriptions on the works of art of the artist Sergio Birga, who died in 2021, who ranked topics and motifs during his entire work. This reports the ABG about the upcoming lecture in the Lindenau Museum, Altenburg.

The exhibition itself, which has been seen in the Lindenau Museum since May 20, 2025, is devoted to the many facets of Birga's artistic work. The assembled 80 works of art include woodcuts that reflect its lifelong fascination for Kafka's dark visions. Renowned as the first German exhibition for Birga, the Lindenau Museum not only presents its works, but also the experiences and encounters that shaped him, as the house in Altenburg emphasizes on its website.

a life with art and kafka

Sergio Birga, who moved to Paris in the 1960s, showed a great joy in experimentation in painting and print graphics, heavily influenced by German Expressionists such as Otto Dix and Oskar Kokoschka. The politically charged times, such as the student protests from 1968 and the Vietnam War, also found their expression in his work. Birga thought far beyond the classic framework and was inspired by the challenges that he met. His work ranges from mythological topics to a late focus on the Pittura Colta. A large part of his creative energy dealt with Kafka's literary work, which was done by the lecture by Dr. Schmidt is deepened again.

Friedrich Schmidt has dealt intensively with Kafka's influence on the visual art and will also appeal to Kafka's reception in art history. Following his roots as a Germanist and philosopher, Schmidt has expressly illuminated the topic in his studies and teaching orders, including at the Goethe University in Frankfurt. His findings will surely expand the understanding of Birga's works and the connection to Kafka's literary heritage.

events related to the exhibition

The exhibition "Stars over Paris" will be shown in the Altenburg Lindenau Museum until August 10, 2025. In addition to the main lecture, public tours and other events are also planned that actively invite the audience to deal with Birga's art. Guided tours on June 1, June 26 and July 20, 2025 as well as various creative workshops offer a comprehensive opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of the artist, while an accompanying catalog in Sandstein Verlag contains numerous interesting contributions, including personal correspondence and drawings by Birgas Widow.

The exhibition not only becomes a tribute to an extraordinary artist, but also an important meeting point for those interested in art and literature who are enthusiastic about linking living environments and artistic influences. Under the direction of the director Roland Krischke, the exhibition is a real magnet for art lovers and an event that should not be missed.

For everyone who wants to learn more about Sergio Birga and his work, a visit to the Lindenau Museum is worthwhile, where art can not only be seen, but also felt. We look forward to an exciting event!

Further information can be found at ABG here as well as at MDR here .