The Cold Heart

Exhibition

The Kunstmuseum Stuttgart is presenting an exhibit at the Kunstgebäude on Schlossplatz that places Wilhelm Hauff's (1802–1827) fairy tale “The Cold Heart” in the context of contemporary art for the first time.

The exhibition takes the fairy tale of the same name as its starting point to reflect on the relationship between identity and social status. Hauff depicts the consequences that industrialization and accelerating capitalism had on society at the beginning of the 19th century as an individual story of monetary greed and emotional isolation. The story, published in 1827, is an allegory of a changing world: existing moral concepts are being shaken, and fears of social decline take hold among the awakening material demands.

By bringing together works of contemporary artists—including two new productions that deal explicitly with the text—the exhibition presents an updated reading of the fairy tale’s central leitmotifs identity, violence and healing, affect, as well as ecological exploi- tation against the backdrop of current events.

Please note: We would like to inform you that the exhibition features flickering light sequences as well as artworks with explicit content, such as coercion, death and sexual violence.

04/18/2026 – 10/04/2026
at the Kunstgebäude
Schlossplatz 2
70173 Stuttgart
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House Rules

Opening Hours “The Cold Heart”
Tue to Sun 11 am–6 pm, Wed 11 am–8 pm
Mon closed (except on public holidays)
Public holidays 11 am–6 pm

Contact
+49 (0)711 / 216 196 00 (Mon to Thu 10 am–4pm Uhr, Fri 10am–2 pm)
info [at] kunstmuseum-stuttgart [dot] de

The Kunstmuseum Stuttgart is closed until early 2027.
Further information

Artists

Kader Attia, Tracey Emin, Jakob Grünenwald, Jenny Holzer, Jesper Just, Friedrich von Keller, Rasmus Myrup, Gabriela Oberkofler, Julius Pristauz, Ricarda Roggan, Erik Sturm, Pol Taburet, Rosemarie Trockel, Troika, Nora Turato

Gallery