Uli Stein: Caricature exhibition in Greiz inspires all generations!

Uli Stein: Caricature exhibition in Greiz inspires all generations!

An interesting exhibition is currently being shown in the tranquil town of Greiz, which puts the work of the famous cartoonist Uli Stein in the spotlight. Stein, who died on August 29, 2020, became known as one of the great German cartoonists by creating anthropomorphized animal characters in his drawings. Caricatures conquered the book market as early as the early 1970s, and Stein is considered a pioneer of this movement. He set standards, especially in the West, and played a key role in establishing cartoon books as successful products, while the Eulenspiegel publishing house in the GDR was only able to keep up to a limited extent.

The exhibition in Greiz presents humorous motifs, including penguins, mice and married couples. A notable example shows a woman talking on the phone with her friend while her husband is in an awkward situation. Such depictions are succinct for Stein's work, which often addresses interpersonal conflicts and spices them up with a good dose of humor. But as Ulf Häder, an expert in caricatures, points out, it may be difficult to understand Uli Stein's humor in a different context in the future.

A look at Uli Stein's legacy

The exhibition also takes a critical look at the topic of humor over time. Häder expresses concerns that Stein's humor, which often plays with breaking taboos, may no longer be contemporary and its sharpness may no longer resonate the same way with future generations. Especially when you consider that political cartoons often have a short half-life in our fast-moving times. Stein's less political and more interpersonal works could potentially cause a shitstorm due to their particular themes, such as a physically disabled person talking to his dog.

The exhibition also raises a satirical warning: “Laughter poses health risks.” This could be seen as a humorous takeaway from the works presented, even if admission is not covered by health insurance.

Uli Stein, whose cartoons have been published in book form since 1984 and have sold more than eleven million copies, will never be forgotten. The diversity of his work and the outstanding success - over 180 million postcards with his drawings have been sold - are evidence of his artistic talent. He published his first works under his pseudonym Peter Herbst at the end of the 1970s and continued to be active until his death. The founding of the Uli Stein Foundation for Animals in Need in 2018 shows his continued great social responsibility.

The exhibition in Greiz is a real must for fans and anyone interested. Perhaps it not only makes us smile, but also makes us think about the themes that Stein took up in his cartoons. Uli Stein remains present through his work and is an exciting chapter in the history of German caricature.

A visit is recommended for anyone who would like to find out more about the exhibition and the life of Uli Stein. His legacy here in Greiz is a sign that the characters he created live on - despite the critical voices that question the humor of today.

Find out more about Uli Stein and his works: MDR, ULI, Wikipedia.