Impetus for a holistic view at Ernst Haeckel

In the GDR was honoured with Ernst Haeckel: In 1981, the Urania Society donated the Ernst Haeckel medal and certificate, which was considered the highest honour of the society. A medal and certificate can be seen in the new exhibition.

Image: Anne Günther (University of Jena)

In the present day, however, the debate about Haeckel is often one-sided because it is only focussed on his thoughts on racial theory. "Haeckel was a racial theorist, but not a practitioner like the National Socialists later were," Porges points out. The biology didactics experts from Jena are therefore in favour of a differentiated view. "Our view at Haeckel will only become whole if we overcome the distorted images," says Porges.

Haeckel presented as a teacher, researcher and artist

The small special exhibition in the University Main Building offers an opportunity to do just that. Individual exhibits are on display here, which are exemplary for the six chapters of the book "Ernst Haeckel in der DDR". Original assignments for the Haeckel school-leaving examination from the GDR era represent Haeckel's educational ambitions, while a blueprint of the GDR fishing research vessel "Ernst Haeckel", which travelled the world's oceans with international crews, refers to Haeckel's marine and fisheries research.

Tamara Knapp from Weimar is responsible for the artistic part of the exhibition. "She has already designed the fascinating cover for our book. Now she is providing a poster for each chapter of the book that refers to Haeckel's life, work or research objects and creates surprising associations using funds from visual art and graphic design," says Karl Porges.

"The works are excerpts from archived and historical images of Haeckel's development. Based on the original images, I have extracted elements of the pictures using collage techniques, processed them further, alienated them or interpreted them further using graphic adaptation techniques in colour and form," says Tamara Knapp, explaining her approach. The resulting large-format paintings captivate the viewer with colourful plants that could be plants or sea creatures, or with imaginary creatures whose birth, growth and death become visible as if in fast motion. Tamara Knapp's works of art offer the viewer plenty of scope for their own interpretations and a new perspective on the seemingly familiar.

Opening hours

The exhibition on the book "Ernst Haeckel in der DDR" can be seen from 5 June to 5 July 2024 in the Exhibition Cabinet, University Main Building, Fürstengraben 1 in Jena. The exhibition is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm.