When can the exhibition Hybrid Beings be seen?

The exhibition can be seen from October 18, 2026, to January 31, 2027.

What are the museum opening hours?

The museum is open Tuesday to Thursday from 10 AM to 2 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM.

What is the admission fee?

Admission to the exhibition is free.

Are there guided tours of the exhibition?

Guided tours are available by appointment. For more information, the museum can be reached at phone number 0951 25954.

Is the exhibition accessible for people with disabilities?

The museum is not fully accessible for people with disabilities. A stairlift is available.

Where is the exhibition located?

The exhibition is located at Austraße 29 in 96047 Bamberg. The entrance of the museum is at Hasengasse.

Hybrid Beings in Bamberg: How Ancient Myths and Contemporary Art Connect New Worlds

Name: Exhibition "Hybrid Beings"
Start: 2026-10-18T10:00:00+02:00
End: 2027-01-31T16:00:00+01:00
Location: Universitätsmuseum für Islamische Kunst – The Bumiller Collection

Hybrid Beings in Bamberg: Between Myth, Human, and Material

The exhibition Hybrid Beings. From Ancient Central Asia with Interventions by Adelbert Heil at the University Museum for Islamic Art Bamberg – The Bumiller Collection brings historical artworks and contemporary interventions into a fascinating dialogue. Curated by Verena Daiber and Adelbert Heil, it offers a cultural historical perspective on Sphinxes, Griffins, Harpies, and other hybrid figures.

When different forces form a new shape

Hybrid beings connect human, animal, and object into enigmatic figures. Their imagery ranges from protective and salvific beings to eerie creatures. The exhibition shows that their roots lie not only in Greek mythology: Many of these concepts trace back to the Ancient Orient and Ancient Central Asia.

In the Iranian cultural sphere, independent combinations such as hare-bird or connections between animal and object emerged. Such representations reflect a long tradition of artistic imagination, in which the boundaries between nature, myth, and human culture become permeable.

Historical objects meet contemporary art

The exhibits of the Bumiller Collection enter into a curated juxtaposition with works by Adelbert Heil. Historical metal art, archaeological evidence, and craft forms meet contemporary sculpture and plastic visual ideas. This creates a contemplation of the works that does not remain in the past but carries its motifs into the present.

Adelbert Heil adapts mythical creatures and ultimately places humans at the center of his creations. His interventions draw attention to the question of how identity is formed when different traits, bodies, and perspectives come together.

The Aesthetics of the Hybrid

In the exhibition atmosphere of the historic town hall, an art experience unfolds amidst materiality, form, and narrative. Metallic surfaces, plastic volumes, and the effect of individual figures make the aesthetic experience immediate. The hybrid form does not appear merely as a curiosity but as an art historical model of thought.

The exhibition connects painting, sculpture, installation, and craft traditions in a common inquiry: What happens when seemingly separate worlds are connected? The answer lies in the forms themselves – and in the observation by the audience.

Cultural education between art history and the present

As a university museum, the Bumiller Collection conveys Islamic art, archaeology, craftsmanship, and social developments in a didactically prepared form. The exhibition provides access for art enthusiasts, families, students, and anyone interested in mythology, transcultural imagery, and the history of the Orient.

Guided tours are available by appointment. The museum is located in a historic town hall in the Bamberg old town and presents art from the Iranian and Central Asian world in a special architectural framework.

Conclusion: A lively dialogue about the other

Hybrid Beings promises an exhibition that links ancient imagery, Islamic art history, and contemporary sculpture. Visitors will experience a stimulating art experience about body, identity, community, and cultural heritage. Those who wish to not only see hybrid forms but understand their historical and societal significance should definitely visit this exhibition in Bamberg live.