When does the Lichtenhagen 1992 exhibition open?

The opening will take place on October 8, 2026, at 6 PM in the foyer of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Günther Uecker State Library.

How long will the exhibition be on display in Schwerin?

The traveling exhibition can be seen from October 8 to November 10, 2026, at the state library.

What does the exhibition show?

It showcases original drawings and preliminary works by Pedro Stoichita as well as other graphic novels related to the processing of contemporary history.

Will there be a panel discussion?

Yes. At the opening, Dr. Gudrun Heinrich, Sandra Eichstädt, and Pedro Stoichita will discuss graphic novels as a means of conveying contemporary history and addressing racism.

Where is the exhibition taking place?

The venue is the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Günther Uecker State Library at Johannes-Stelling-Straße 29, 19053 Schwerin.

Is the exhibition accessible for people with disabilities?

Information regarding accessibility is not specified in the available event details.

Lichtenhagen 1992: How graphic novels make memory and contemporary history newly experienced

Name: Lichtenhagen 1992 – the Graphic Novel or: How do we convey contemporary history?
Start: 2026-10-09T10:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-09T18:00:00+02:00
Location: Landesbibliothek Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Günther Uecker

How images make contemporary history visible: Lichtenhagen 1992 in Schwerin

The traveling exhibition Lichtenhagen 1992 – the Graphic Novel or: How do we convey contemporary history? opens on October 8, 2026, and will be on display until November 10, 2026, in the foyer of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Günther Uecker State Library. At the center is the question of how a graphic novel can convey historical violence, racism, and societal responsibility.

Original drawings as a book historical source

In August 1992, the Sunflower House in Rostock-Lichtenhagen was set on fire. The racist riots became a shocking symbol of racism in a united Germany. The exhibition approaches this contemporary historical event through the graphic novel, which was published in 2024 by the State Center for Political Education Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in cooperation with the University of Rostock.

Pedro Stoichita developed and illustrated the work. The visual artist grew up in a multilingual environment with German, French, Spanish, and Romanian and currently lives in Berlin and Rome. His drawings combine narrative clarity with a sensitive visual language that makes historical perspectives visible side by side rather than homogenizing them.

Between drawing, memory, and political education

The presentation shows original drawings by Pedro Stoichita as well as preliminary works of the graphic novel. These materials open up an immediate examination of the work: lines, image compositions, and artistic decisions are experienced as part of a historical narrative process. In addition to the originals, the state library presents other graphic novels that deal with the processing of contemporary history.

The exhibition connects aesthetic experience with cultural education. The graphic novel serves as an inclusive starting point for dealing with racism. Not only facts and data are at the forefront, but also the question of how images stimulate empathy, historical imagination, and critical thinking.

Opening with panel discussion

At the opening on October 8, 2026, at 6 PM, Dr. Ramona Dornbusch, Director of the State Office for Culture and Monument Preservation Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, will welcome the guests. Matthias Wehry, head of the state library, will introduce the significance of the collection of preliminary drawings of a graphic novel.

In the subsequent panel discussion, Dr. Gudrun Heinrich and Sandra Eichstädt from the University of Rostock, as well as Pedro Stoichita, will discuss the graphic novel as an access point for conveying contemporary history and addressing racism. Jochen Schmidt, Director of the State Center for Political Education, will moderate the event. A small reception will conclude the opening.

An art experience with social responsibility

The exhibition atmosphere in the foyer of the state library combines the character of a cultural memory place with close attention to the drawings. In the examination of the works, materials, sequences of images, and curatorial contexts are traces of a culture of remembrance. Thus, an art experience arises that connects historical insight with aesthetic experience.

The exhibition is accessible until November 10, 2026, during the opening hours of the state library. It is aimed at art enthusiasts, those interested in history, educators, young people, and anyone who is concerned with the question of how society talks about violence, racism, and memory.

Conclusion: Experience contemporary history in its original

Lichtenhagen 1992 shows how painting, drawing, and graphic storytelling can contribute to conveying complex history. Pedro Stoichita's original drawings, the curatorial context, and perspectives from art, science, and political education make the exhibition an important place for reflection. Anyone who wants to not just read about historical responsibility but also reflect on it in a concentrated aesthetic experience should definitely visit this exhibition live in Schwerin.