The first version of Heinrich von Kleist's world-famous story "Michael Kohlhaas" was published in June 1808 and is one of the best-known works by the poet and playwright, who was born in Frankfurt an der Oder. The story about the Brandenburg horse dealer of the same name has been read and interpreted many times since its publication. It has been adapted many times for theatre and film and has inspired a large number of artistic and literary works.

The protagonist Michael Kohlhaas has been wronged and initially takes legal action against this and fails. Disappointed by the official state authorities and after the death of his wife, he decides to take the law into his own hands and begins a campaign of revenge, which more and more people join. Towns are burnt down, people are murdered and pillaged. Eventually, the reformer Martin Luther intervenes and mediates between the state and Kohlhaas until the latter is finally vindicated – and ultimately pays for his actions with his life.

Is Kohlhaas a criminal, a troublemaker or just a man striving for justice? How can the story be understood then and now? The exhibition looks for answers and approaches the story in different ways. It links Kleist's "Michael Kohlhaas" with the question of its museum presentation and explores how literature can be presented.

These questions are at the centre of the exhibition, which the curators see as an experimental space in which to experiment with installations, objects and AI. From the classic presentation of the collection to the museum as a place of immersive experience and one's own Kohlhaas story, the public can follow the experiments and experience various facets of Kleist's "Michael Kohlhaas" as a museum object.

Participants

Curation: Milena Rolka & Viviane Jasmin Meierdreeß

Design: Studio Ra, Berlin

Funded by: The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Ministry of Science, Research and Culture (State of Brandenburg), City of Frankfurt (Oder)