The longest Bible in the world in the new c-dot Münsterforum

The longest Bible in the world in the new c-dot Münsterforum

By superadmin
16/09/20
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Freiburg. The c-Punkt MÜNSTERFORUM shows from September 14th the only complete painted and longest Bible in the world – the Wiedmann Bible.

The Wiedmann Bible is a worldwide unique cycle of 3,333 hand-painted color tablets, which are grouped into nineteen Leporellos. It shows the entire Old and New Testament as multi-panel painting. A distance of around 1.2 kilometers would be covered along the fully lined up work of the Wiedmann Bible, in the course of which one could decipher the “story-telling” of 3,333 images. The artist Willy Wiedmann worked on this work for 16 years (1984-2000), which will now be on view from September 14, 2020 to January 9, 2021 in the c-dot MÜNSTERFORUM.

Willy Wiedmann’s compositions are in the context of geometric modernism: his polychrome graphic forms are intertwined, superimposed and complement one another, and their alternating rhythm can theoretically be continued indefinitely. The place of the action is indeed the biblical world, but the form of expression reflects the image of history and society in modern times.

From Weimar to Washington

Because the printing technology was not so advanced when it was completed, the artist was unable to publish his life’s work during his lifetime. After his death in 2013 and the discovery of his father’s work, his son Martin continued his dream: He had the Bible printed in book form (ART edition) and presented it in interactive form and with videos and many other elements.

In addition to the Gutenberg Museum, the Bavarian State Library in Munich, the Duchess Anna Amalia Library in Weimar, the Bibliorama Bible Museum in Stuttgart, the Bible Experience Museum in Frankfurt and the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C. (USA), the largest Bible museum in the world, has added the Wiedmann Bible ART-Edition to its inventory and shown it to its visitors. At the beginning of 2019 the Bible was presented to Pope Francis in the Vatican.

ART edition permanently in the MÜNSTERFORUM

In Freiburg, the head of the c-Punkt MÜNSTERFORUM, Susanna Czech-Lepold, will receive the Wiedmann Bible ART-Edition as a permanent loan for the MÜNSTERFORUM.

“The Wiedmann Bible is an impressive work that brings the Bible closer to the contemporary observer, regardless of whether he has already dealt with the biblical narratives. Its strong expressiveness alone inspires discussion. We are looking forward to this exhibition in the MÜNSTERFORUM, which is also the first in the new premises, and we look forward to the feedback from our visitors,” says Susanna Czech-Lepold.

In parallel to the exhibition, the c-dot will be offering an accompanying program in various formats in the coming months to take up and deepen biblical, spiritual or even simply questions about life that may arise from the impression of the pictures.

The bible will be handed over to Martin Wiedmann, the son of the artist who has since died: “The almost 1.2 km long Leporello was hidden in the attic of my father’s gallery in Stuttgart for almost two decades. After his death I found the work with its 3,333 pictures here in four boxes. It was clear to me that I would fulfill my father’s dream or continue the mission of the Bible: publish it with the aim of bringing the Bible closer to people, ”says Martin Wiedmann. “It is an honor for me to be able to present this picture Bible to the c-Punkt MÜNSTERFORUM as a gift and to make it permanently accessible to the Freiburg residents.”

EXHIBITION:

Location: c-Punkt MÜNSTERFORUM, Herrenstrasse 33, 798098 Freiburg

Exhibition period: September 14, 2020 to January 9, 2021

Opening times: Mon-Sat 10 am-2pm
Groups: by appointment only
Free entry

SUPPORT PROGRAM:

The exhibition is flanked by an extensive accompanying program, among other things there will be art tours, faith talks about “Biblical stumbling blocks” and “Academic art breaks” as well as special offers for children.

Due to the changing Corona requirements, c-Punkt adjusts the respective program to the given options shortly beforehand. Current events are communicated to the press in good time in advance and published on www-c-punkt-freiburg.de.