Zeitgemäß?

Ausstellung zur Sache WWU

During the 2022 summer semester, students from the Münster School of Design, in collaboration with the "Zur Sache WWU" project team, developed seven exhibition stations addressing the legacy of Wilhelm II. Each station pursued a distinct visual strategy, offering diverse perspectives on the namesake of the University of Münster. The exhibition was staged in a decommissioned pedestrian tunnel dating back to the 1970s—located between the historic Old Town and the Palace District—whose unique setting profoundly shaped the atmosphere of the exhibition.

The exhibition relied primarily on powerful spatial and visual impressions. Consequently, this documentation offers only a limited glimpse of the site-specific installations, which invited visitors to actively participate, observe, and explore.

Together with Angeliki Mandilara and Miriam Klauke, the three of us developed Station 1: "Called by God? – Wilhelm II as Media Emperor." Divided into two parts, this station reflected upon Wilhelm II’s self-presentation and self-perception, as well as the subsequent deconstruction of this image and the public’s external perception of him.

Exhibition, Installation, Interdisciplinary, Team Project

An exhibition by the University of Münster (WWU) and the Münster School of Design (MSD)

Year: 2025/2026

Exhibition Credits listed below

Concept:

Exhibition Entrance

*Station 1 (Our Station)

After descending the stairs to the exhibition, visitors first arrived at the introductory module. Passing through a black curtain, they then entered the exhibition itself and proceeded directly to our installation.

Constructiont:

We designed and built the module ourselves. A large framework of beams served as the base, which—by being clad in wood and fabric—formed a large box. Inside this box, we installed a television and speakers to provide the audio and video.

On the front wall (the one facing the entrance), we hang—within a golden frame—the portrait of Wilhelm II that he commissioned in emulation of the Sun King, Louis XIV, as the embodiment of his self-presentation.

Side 1 - Self-Staging Wilhelm II

Side 2 - Deconstruction

Video Side 2 - Deconstruction (watch with Sound)

Video & Sounddesign created by Miriam klauke, Angeliki Mandilara & Shajan Pieper

More about the exhibition: uni-muenster.de/ZurSacheWWU

Exhibition Credits

An exhibition by the University of Münster (WWU) and the Münster School of Design (MSD)

Concept and Realization of the Stations:
Jonas Altrogge Emma Bechtold, Johanna Linea Caspers, Amalie Elisabeth Ernst, Paula Götz, Alicia Huntgeburth, Jordana Aglaja Franziska Jeckel, Anna Kempkes; Miriam Klauke, Alexander Koletzko, Larissa Korte, Luca Lemmen, Angeliki Mandilara, Loya Meyer, Muriel Miermeister, Shajan Pieper, Pia Röttgers, Helena Schenk, Pia Schulte, Leonie Truß, Lars Mika Weber, Dana Wolter,

Supervision:
Prof. Claudia Grönebaum, Prof. Henning Tietz, MSD Münster

Overall Concept:
Dr. Eckhard Kluth and Kathrin Schulte, WWU Münster

Consultation:
Dr. Silvia Necker, LWL-Preußenmuseum Minden

This exhibition is part of the project "Zur Sache WWU," in which the University of Münster (WWU) invites discussion regarding its namesake, Wilhelm II. Further information can be found online at: wwu.muenster.de/zursachewwu.

We would like to thank the City of Münster—specifically the Office for Mobility and Civil Engineering—for providing the exhibition venue.

Shay Pieper
Art & Design

Studio: Timeline Design
www.timeline-design.space

Art: LIPZ only
www.lipzonly.de

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