bition “The World of Insects in Friedensau”

From 2 August to 30 September 2026, the library at Friedensau Adventist University, Ahornstraße 3, 39291 Friedensau, will be hosting the photography exhibition ‘The World of Insects in Friedensau’, featuring 108 fascinating photographs by the Hamburg-based photographer Aribald Wesselow. The artist will be present at the official opening of the exhibition on Sunday, 2 August 2026, at 6 pm. Dr Johannes Hartlapp will deliver the laudatory address. The exhibition is organised by Friedensau Adventist University in cooperation with Zeltplatz Friedensau gGmbH as part of the ‘Grünes Wissen’ project.

Workshops for various age groups are available on request. Registration is required: | The photography exhibition can be viewed in the library foyer during regular opening hours. Admission is free.

The fascinating diversity of the local insect world is the focus of an extraordinary photographic exhibition, which will be on display in Friedensau from 2 August 2026. Under the title ‘The Insect World in Friedensau’, photographer Aribald Wesselow (Hamburg) presents photographs that impressively document the beauty, vibrant colours and astonishing diversity of insects.

Across 24 display panels, visitors are introduced to the often-overlooked world of bumblebees, butterflies, grasshoppers, dragonflies and numerous other insect species. With great patience and photographic skill, the artist has succeeded in capturing the creatures in unique moments and bringing their fascinating ways of life to life.

The exhibition holds great personal significance for the photographer. Aribald Wesselow spent his childhood in Friedensau during the war. Later, his career took him to Hamburg, where, amongst other things, he worked as a photographer for the renowned television magazine ‘TV Hören und Sehen’. With this exhibition, he is now returning to a place that shaped his early years. The presentation of his works in his former home town combines personal memories with his photographic skill.

A distinctive feature of the exhibition is that all the photographs were taken in Friedensau. The images document the impressive biodiversity that can often be discovered right on our doorstep. Over the past few years, Wesselow has observed and photographed the insect life of Friedensau, thereby creating a unique record of regional nature observation. The exhibition not only showcases the beauty of insects, but also highlights their importance to our ecosystems. In light of the decline in many insect species, it invites visitors to view nature through fresh eyes and to recognise the often underestimated role these creatures play in the environment and biodiversity.

The exhibition fits particularly well with the objectives of the “Grünes Wissen” project run by Zeltplatz gGmbH. The project views nature as a space for learning and experiencing, and develops a wide range of educational and training programmes in the field of nature and environmental education. The aim of the project is to convey knowledge about natural interrelationships in a practical way and, in particular, to support key influencers – such as educational professionals, teachers, group leaders and other interested parties – in integrating nature experiences and environmental education into their own work. This includes lectures, training courses, workshops and other event formats that combine knowledge of nature with practical methods and encourage people to actively campaign for the preservation of the natural foundations of life. Anyone interested is warmly invited to attend the opening and visit the exhibition.