“Myth of the Forest” at the Gasometer Oberhausen
From March 20, 2026, the new exhibition “Mythos Wald” at the Oberhausen Gasometer will bring our forests to life.
Emotional, surprising, captivating, and always scientifically sound: From March 20 to December 30, 2026, the Gasometer Oberhausen will take visitors on a journey into the breathtaking beauty of our forests. In various chapters, "Mythos Wald" (Myth of the Forest) presents the diversity of our woodlands, whose ecosystems are as varied as the climate zones in which they occur. Tropical rainforests lie around the equator with their lavish abundance, the mightiest trees grow thousands of kilometers further north in California, and Europe's last primeval forest can be found in the Transylvanian Alps. The German forest, often featured in fairy tales and legends, with its oaks, beeches, spruces, and pines, is multifaceted and also a place of longing.
With large-format images and film sequences, some of which are being shown for the first time, the Gasometer demonstrates that forests are more than just a collection of trees. The exhibition focuses on the unique flora and fauna, showcasing a magnificent array of creatures including wolves, sloths, owls, brown bears, a two-and-a-half-meter-long arthropod from the Carboniferous period, and the unique original skeleton of a giant deer that became extinct around 7000 years ago. Often hidden, a completely different world of wonders can be found, comprised of microorganisms such as the adorable tardigrade, ants, and colorful slime molds. The majority of the exhibits are on loan from the Museum Koenig in Bonn, the LWL Museum of Natural History in Münster, and the Ruhr Museum in Essen.
Earth Trilogy
“Our new exhibition ‘Myth of the Forest’ is the third part of a trilogy that began with ‘The Fragile Paradise’ in 2021, followed by ‘Planet Ocean’ in 2024,” explains Jeanette Schmitz. The curator and managing director of Gasometer Oberhausen GmbH continues: “What all three exhibitions have in common is the unusual combination of scientific facts and artistic interpretation. ‘Myth of the Forest’ thus documents not only the consequences of climate change but also sustainable solutions and raises awareness of our Earth as an ecosystem worthy of protection.”
Der Baum
The dramatic highlight of the new exhibition "Myth of the Forest" is a never-before-realized art sculpture. "The Tree," the world's largest indoor light art installation, offers a unique view from its visually designed root system up into the treetop, which rises 35 meters into the sky of the Gasometer. Trees have always been a part of the human imagination, symbolizing growth, habitat, and protection, while simultaneously serving as a projection screen for fears and longings.
Tickets and further information can be found at gasometer.de.
The Gasometer Oberhausen is the anchor point of the Route of Industrial Culture.
Photo: Thomas Wolf