INFLUENCED BY KUNIGUNDE. StudioEINZ in dialogue with a medieval empress – Diözesanmuseum Paderborn | 29.03.-31.05.2026

The exhibition “Influenced by Kunigunde: StudioEINZ in Dialogue with a Medieval Empress” will be presented at the Diocesan Museum Paderborn from March 29 to May 31, 2026. The project by the collective StudioEINZ, part of the CONNECT # series, engages in a contemporary dialogue with the historical figure of Empress Kunigunde and reflects on the evolution of images of women from the Middle Ages to the present day through artistic works.

Image above: Diocesan Museum Paderborn from the outside in the evening © Kalle Noltenhans

Who exactly was Kunigunde? A beautiful empress from a bygone era? A powerful ruler, a saint, a pious noblewoman and wife? How have perceptions of women changed today, and what does a woman from the Middle Ages have to do with us? These are the kinds of questions the Paderborn-based women’s collective StudioEINZ explores in their exhibition “Influenced by Kunigunde: StudioEINZ in Dialogue with a Medieval Empress,” opening on March 29th at the Diocesan Museum in Paderborn.

“Influenced by Kunigunde” is the second exhibition in the new CONNECT # series. This experimental format fosters collaboration, enabling diverse artists and groups to work together within a museum setting to create exhibitions, address socially relevant topics, and create a space for discussion.

Kunigunde: Ruler, Saint, Wife, and Role Model?

The story of Kunigunde is closely linked to Paderborn. Here, the future Empress was crowned Queen in 1002. Here, the ruling couple, Henry II and Kunigunde, had an imposing residence. Two unique reliquary busts of the couple are among the treasures of the Diocesan Museum’s collection. Their depictions also adorn the building’s exterior, visible from afar.

Kunigunde’s life illustrates how women in the Middle Ages navigated the complexities of power, responsibility, and societal expectations. Kunigunde is not only a historical figure but also a subject onto whom new images and ideas of femininity have been repeatedly projected. Is she a suitable role model? The seven-member team at StudioEINZ explores her story and its contemporary relevance through installations, collages, and performances, using 3D prints, graffiti, objects, and artistic and creative projects. The interventions illuminate the “Kunigundes” in the Diocesan Museum’s collection from a contemporary perspective, revealing new interpretations and establishing connections to current artistic practices. The experimentally designed exhibition, with its accompanying program, also emphasizes participation and interaction.

About StudioEINZ

StudioEINZ is an innovative, interdisciplinary collective of designers and art educators in Paderborn. The seven members bring diverse expertise: from textile and fashion design to furniture design, graphic design, and photography, as well as art history and collage.

WHENN?

Opening: Sunday, 29. March 2026 at 3 pm

Exhibition dates: Sunday, 29. March – Sunday, 31. May 2026

WHEN?

Diözesanmuseum und Domschatzkammer
Markt 17
33098 Paderborn