When can the exhibition Between Shapes be seen?

The exhibition can be seen from October 30, 2026, to April 11, 2027, at the GRIMMWELT Kassel.

Where does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition takes place at the GRIMMWELT Kassel, Weinbergstraße 21, 34117 Kassel.

Who is the exhibition suitable for?

The exhibition is aimed at adults, children, and families, combining observation of works with interactive elements and a riddle trail for children.

Are there guided tours of the exhibition?

Yes, the GRIMMWELT offers guided tours of the special exhibition. Individual tour dates may incur admission fees as well as additional charges.

What topics does the exhibition address?

The exhibition focuses on the interplay of word and image, fairy tale illustration, cultural inheritance, biographical insights, and new forms of storytelling.

Is the GRIMMWELT accessible for people with disabilities?

The GRIMMWELT provides services for blind and visually impaired people as well as for wheelchair users and those with mobility impairments.

Helga Gebert's Fairy Tale Images Open New Spaces Between Word, Image, and Memory

Name: Between Shapes | Helga Gebert
Start: 2026-10-30T10:00:00+01:00
End: 2027-04-11T18:00:00+02:00
Location: GRIMMWELT Kassel

Between Shapes: Helga Gebert's Narrative Image Worlds in the GRIMMWELT Kassel

The exhibition BETWEEN SHAPES is dedicated to Helga Gebert, a significant author and illustrator of German children’s and youth literature. In the GRIMMWELT Kassel, it becomes evident how illustrations not only accompany stories but also continue, retell, and reinterpret them. Word and image engage in a lively dialogue, where traditional fairy tale material gains new perspectives.

When Images Transform Stories

Helga Gebert's illustrations take the viewer into fantastic in-between spaces: familiar figures from the tales of the Brothers Grimm, stories from 1001 Nights, and original stories appear as independent image spaces. Body postures, facial expressions, colors, and compositions alter the perception of the narrative. Observing her works opens an aesthetic experience where each image becomes a starting point for a new interpretation.

An Important Voice in Children’s and Youth Literature

Born in Freiburg im Breisgau in 1935, Helga Gebert was one of the key figures in the renewal of German children’s and youth literature in the 1970s and 1980s. As a house author and illustrator for Beltz & Gelberg, she developed a visual language that combines poetic fantasy, subtle humor, and social awareness. Her work represents a direction in illustration that recognizes children’s literature as an independent cultural form of expression.

Curating between Biography, Fairy Tales, and the Present

The exhibition connects biographical insights with the analysis of motifs, working methods, and sources of inspiration. It makes visible how cultural influences, historical narrative traditions, and contemporary questions are inscribed in fairy tale images. Interactive elements, a riddle trail for children, and an exhibition catalog expand the classic presentation and promote cultural education for different generations.

An Artistic Experience for Adults and Children

The atmosphere of the exhibition thrives on the balance between concentrated observation of works and playful discovery. Families encounter fairytale figures at eye level, while art-interested adults follow the art-historical references, the narrative image design, and the subtle shifts between the original and reinterpretation. Thus, a multisensory artistic experience is created, connecting reading, seeing, questioning, and remembering.

Conclusion: Stories Emerge in Between

BETWEEN SHAPES shows how illustration becomes an independent art form and keeps cultural inheritance in motion. The exhibition invites visitors to see familiar fairy tales with new eyes and to experience the aesthetic power of Helga Gebert’s image worlds directly. A visit to the GRIMMWELT Kassel enriches the cultural perception of children, families, and art-interested adults.