Dear readers of my blog,

as promised last month but not as rapidly as I would have like to, you are going to find appended an article on the opening of the Oscar Wilde Exhibition at Ansbach, Franconia, Bavaria, on 11 December 2024. While the article is in English, the link referring you to the text of the opening speech by Dr Wolfgang Streit, the local initiator and organizer of the event, will only be really helpful to those who are able to take in hybrid presentation, for it is only the quotations from Wilde’s work that Dr Streit reads in both English and German.

Of course, I am biased in terms of being both the blogger whose work is being presented in analogous form by this exhibition and the person who originally conceived the bilingual exhibits. At the same time, I am very grateful to Dr Streit for the approach to Wilde he chose to talk about him as writer and man in general rather than introduce prospective visitors to the story presented on the twelve roll-ups. Even with hindsight, I would not have been able to give the introductory talk in that manner.

Before I leave you to read the report written by two students of Dr Streit and study the photographs as well as listen to his talk, let me say briefly that this exhibition is, according again to Dr Streit who spent an evening to do some research on this matter, the only one around that can be had in any school or cultural institution for just the cost of paying for the postage from one venue to another. Also, it does what people in German-speaking countries cannot easily do now since it allows people to visit an extracurricular place of learning because it can be hosted in one’s own school. The only other places – libraries rather than museums with permanent exhibitions – on the continent are the James Joyce Foundation at Zurich, Switzerland, and the Irvin Ehrenpreis Centre of Swift Studies and the Aldous Huxley Research Centre, both at Münster University, Germany.

Spreading the word about this travelling exhibition on Oscar Wilde might help to keep it not only alive and kicking but increase the number of people who have profited from it,

all best wishes,

Jörg W. Rademacher

Oscar Wilde: A Life between Genius and Society – Commemorating His 170th Birthday

On the occasion of the 170th anniversary of Oscar Wilde's birth, a special exhibition was opened in the State Library in the heart of Ansbach, dedicated to exploring the life and works of this extraordinary writer – a traveling exposition curated by Dr Jörg Rademacher. The event aims to bring together numerous literature enthusiasts, students, and community members eager to learn more about Wilde – one of the sharpest and most controversial thinkers of the Victorian era.

Following the warm welcome of the head of the library, Mr Mantsch, our school principal, Mr Helmreich, also addressed all visiting students and guests.

He particularly emphasized the importance of cultural education and the relevance of Wilde today.

Afterwards, the initiator of the exhibition, Dr Streit, took the stage for a deeper exploration of Wilde’s legacy. He highlighted Oscar Wilde’s remarkable versatility, emphasizing his place in literary history: Wilde was not only a brilliant playwright but also a keen observer of human nature and an unflinching critic of the societal norms of his time.

A central focus of Streit’s speech was Wilde’s most famous work, The Picture of Dorian Gray. He outlined the novel’s sharp critique of moral hypocrisy, its deep philosophical examination of the human condition, and its author’s independent, morally tinged aestheticism. Wilde, he argued, used Dorian Gray also to investigate the dangerous seduction of external beauty and the emptiness of a merely sensuous life – a theme that remains as relevant today as it was in the 19th century.

Afterwards, all attending students of FOS-classes 13W and 13SIW (final forms of a vocational gymnasium in Bavaria) worked hard to assess in detail the 12 bilingual banners of the exhibition and appreciate their fine historical illustrations. In particular, they showed us students a particularly painful and personal chapter of Wilde’s life – his trial and imprisonment. The exhibition reveals the legal and social consequences of Wilde’s homosexuality. We got to know Wilde as a man ahead of his time, challenging the normative pressures of Victorian society, especially regarding his homoerotic inclinations: He openly had a romantic relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, a younger man from the noble British upper class, at a time when same-sex relationships were illegal and punishable by law.

The exhibition explains how Wilde’s life ultimately culminated in a tragic series of events leading to his arrest. In 1895, he was charged with “gross indecency” – an accusation rooted more in societal prejudice than in any criminal act accepted today. As a result of two highly publicized trials in London Central Criminal, the Old Bailey, Wilde was convicted and sentenced to two years of hard labor.

Scrutinized over a distance of 130 years, Wilde’s trial was more than just a legal battle. It was a symbol of the destructive effects of institutional intolerance. He was punished not only for his actions but for his refusal to hide his true self. Therefore, he became a martyr for individuality and freedom of expression.

All in all, this exhibition serves as a reminder that Oscar Wilde was much more than an eccentric writer. He was a courageous thinker prepared to speak truth to power in an era of repression, and to challenge the conventions of his time. Wilde’s legacy continues to inspire discussions about art, identity, and the price of authenticity, also in our today’s world, which is too often governed by societal expectations.

Linh Dan Hoang Ngoc and Hannah Weiss

If you want to know more, do not hesitate to listen to the following talk in English and German by Dr Wolfgang Streit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZosK5PX4QK4