Cycle of Life and Death    A curved wall, forming a room, with the picture of our galaxy and a ’supernova‘ symbolizes decay and rebirth. The human being as a part of the universe and thus part of this cycle is represented by a sculpture in front of the ‚galactic‘ backdrop. A sound composition is embedded into the eternal cycle of becoming and passing. It refers to the rhythm that is simulated by the current birth and death rates of at least two births to one death per second, also digitally visualized through a display.

Inevitability of the death    Inescapable death constitutes the end of earthly life. Each time has its own death, because our way of dealing with the inevitable reality of death is culturally informed. A room sculpture consisting of seemingly loose lamellae, forms a body that flows into itself. A lower cone represents ‚Life‘, and a cone emerging above head level represents ‚Death‘. Each lamella belongs to death as well as life, the turning point signifying the connection between life and death. They also bear display cases and a screen showing the various images of death. They also bear display cases showing the various images of death and a screen for a video displaying parts of ‚Jedermann‘, a play by H.v. Hofmannsthal.

Arts    Free-standing exhibition elements present modern art, and objects from ethnology and folklore. They are flexible and within the exhibition they can be placed rather freely and meet the needs of the museums premises.

‚Farewell element‘ – Death realms in Viking Age    The ‚farewell elements‘ carry the two levels of life and death. By means of large back-lit graphics, a drawn interpretative depiction of the funeral is shown on the lower half, whereas the upper level shows a possible or abstract conception of the beyond, based on this. In this case spikes were put into a grave in Viking Age Scandinavia, probably to help enable a secure arrival in one of the realms of the dead.

‚Spiral-like backbone‘    A ‚backbone‘ carries the main topics of the exhibition, the human being and its connection to death. The spiral segments indicate the different subject areas vividly and in an instructional way, and lead the visitor along the various farewell processes. The topics are being artistically and atmospherically visualized on the ʻopenedʼ panels by means of large-format, backlit graphics.

‚Farewell element‘ – large    ‚Farewell elements‘ carry the two levels of life and death: the funeral and a conception of the beyond. By means of large back-lit graphics, a drawn interpretative depiction of a funeral is shown on the lower half, whereas the upper level shows a possible or abstract conception of the beyond. Myths and stories connect the fascinating objects, presented in the show cases, with a possible or abstract conception of the beyond.

‚Farewell element‘ – small    ‚Farewell elements‘ carry the two levels of life and death: the funeral and a conception of the beyond. By means of large back-lit graphics, a drawn interpretative depiction of a funeral is shown on the lower half, whereas the upper level shows a possible or abstract conception of the beyond. Myths and stories connect the fascinating objects, presented in the show cases, with a possible or abstract conception of the beyond.

Touch screen: Funerals from the Stone Age until today    At this exhibition element interesting funerals and grave situations are visualized and animated (possibly multi-touch / interactive). An elongated showcase lies below a curved element with two touch screens at their ends, and which bends, like in a burial mound, over precious objects. Accompanied by these extraordinary burial objects the visitor undertakes a journey around the world, to some of the most exciting and touching funerals and cemeteries from the Stone Age until today.

A Journey around the world    At this exhibition element, the visitor encounters, by means of fascinating objects, pictures and videos, humankind worldwide in its dealings with death and mourning. The great diversity of different mourning rites worldwide, are shown on square boards by means of images and videos. Through guides, one can learn about the ritual acts in more detail. Original objects of the rites and cultures being presented, are exhibited in the corresponding showcases below. A touch screen shows an interactive map of the world with the illustrations of current cemeteries and their multitudinous grave forms.

Religions and the soul    An overview of the different world religions is placing the human beings in the center. For any person, the religions are, in their manner, determining, in life and in death. A sculpture with the working title ʻSoulʼ forms the centre of this installation. A plain square base starts turning upwards, layer by layer, so small projecting surfaces are formed. These surfaces represent the religions, which, through electronic guides, tell of their respective farewell-rite-processes.

A time journey    Graves are the visualization of mourning and consolation for the ones left behind. Archaeology knows a variety of grave-types and funeral customs, that have been subject to continual transition. A seven metre long illustration shows some of the most contrasting funerary rituals of the last 7000 years, as if they were all part of a single funeral ceremony. In one lavish, continuous showcase, below the ‚ceremonies‘, representative sensational objects of each period, or, respective funeral type, are displayed.

‚Farewell element‘ – large: Eternal?    The ‚farewell element‘ carry the two levels of life and death. By means of large back-lit graphics, a drawn interpretative depiction of the funeral is shown on the lower half, whereas the upper level shows a possible or abstract conception of the beyond, based on this. Death masks and other memorabilia preserve the memory of a dead person, today maybe replaced by the internet. An interactive video wall with internet access offers visitors the ability to find specific people, ‚immortalized‘ through the internet.