Frank Kunert: Wunderland at the Till-Eulenspiegel-Museum
There is still a wonderful and entertaining exhibition to see in the small town of Schöppenstedt until December 15, 2025: Frank Kunert’s Wonderland. I admit that I had no prior connection with the artist. But that changed—at the latest—this past Sunday. This light-hearted exhibition, infused throughout with dark humor, is absolutely worth a visit! We genuinely laughed out loud at the double meanings in the works on display. And what could be nicer than a wholehearted laugh in these (economically) gloomy times?
“Just You and Me”
Right at the entrance of the Till Eulenspiegel Museum, Kunert gets started. The first piece, Just You and Me, packs a punch. The artist builds his images as miniature sets and then photographs them. A fantastic concept. With intelligent humor, Kunert makes viewers both laugh and think. Just You and Me, for example, shows a 10-meter diving tower whose diving board holds a festively set table—above an empty pool. Equally pointed and simultaneously macabre is his image featuring the winners’ podium. Titled The Best Places, it shows the three podium steps in a cemetery. Office workers will be able to smirk at works like Office Nap as well as at the piece called Daydream, into which surely many employees have mentally escaped during a meeting.
I also really liked the First Mobile Phone, which Kunert created from an English phone booth combined with an airplane underneath. Yes, the artist certainly seems to lack neither wordplay nor keen perception nor creativity. I can only recommend the exhibition.
A Visit with Till Eulenspiegel
Since we were already there, we wanted to take a look at the famous trickster Till Eulenspiegel, known far beyond the borders of Schöppenstedt and Braunschweig. In a permanent exhibition at the museum, you’ll find plenty of historical anecdotes and facts that likewise prompt smiles and reflection. Although I’ve been to Schöppenstedt and the surrounding area many times, I had never given the museum the attention it deserved. Unjustly so, as I now realize. All in all, we had a very entertaining Sunday morning here. When we left the museum in the early afternoon, even the sun was smiling at us. So we set out into the Elm, heading toward the Watzumer Häuschen, where we wanted to take a short walk.
Elm Loop from Sambleben
For that, we chose the 12-kilometer Elm Loop from Sambleben on Komoot. Admittedly, the wide forest road at the start of the “hike” would be considered rather boring by any passionate hiker. But if you look at the beautiful light and the glow of the last autumn leaves when the sun breaks through the clouds, the picture changes completely. Even the view across the fields takes on a whole new tone. After this little outing, we wanted to treat ourselves to the usual “final coffee.” So we went to Helmstedt, to the venerable (and unfortunately somewhat aged) Café Förster on Neumärker Street, a place I remember from childhood. The interior hasn’t really changed much either—true to the motto: The old often proves itself. Good evening then!
