To mark the 350th anniversary of the death of Johann Jakob Christoph von Grimmelshausen, the Grimmelshausen towns of Renchen, Offenburg and Oberkirch, together with the Grimmelshausenfreunde e.V., are organizing an art competition on the theme:
Simplicissimus reloaded.
Modern art in dialog with Grimmelshausen
Since the end of the Second World War, Europe has largely lived in peace – but conflicts such as the war in Ukraine make it clear how fragile this balance remains. The idea of a united Europe and peaceful cooperation is constantly being put to the test.
A look back shows how profoundly warlike upheavals can shake societies: During the Thirty Years’ War, all order disintegrated. Mercenary armies roamed the country plundering, civilians suffered from violence, hunger, disease and fear. Often only military service promised security. Grimmelshausen’s novel Der abenteuerliche Simplicissimus, in which the author deals with his own war experiences, is set in this chaos. His world is baroque – characterized by the idea that everything earthly is “vain”, i.e. fleeting and deceptive.
Grimmelshausen’s hero Simplicius Simplicissimus interprets his perceptions in a sometimes bizarre way, moving through imaginative dream worlds – on earth, in the air and under water. There is a fitting motto for this in the illustrations of the Baroque Simplicissimus: “Der Wahn betreugt.” Grimmelshausen is referring to the “glasses” with which people view the world.
Because in times of fake news, unregulated social media consumption and rapidly advancing AI, what is truth? How do we distinguish facts from opinions, deception from reality, when information is deliberately manipulated and public opinion becomes a question of power?
We invite you to engage creatively with these questions: Design a work that spans the arc from Grimmelshausen’s world to the present day – and in doing so, makes our present day visible from a new perspective.
A selection of the works will be presented as part of a public exhibition. An expert jury will evaluate the works of art – the winners can look forward to considerable prize money.
Application deadline: June 15, 2026