Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, Ingraining and Unfolding

The exhibition Prägungen und Entfalten. Rolf Nesch (1893 – 1975), Nadira Husain (*1980) and Ahmed Umar (*1988) uses three artists from different generations to shed light on the diverse interweaving of homeland (post-)migration, cultural identity and artistic practice. Rolf Nesch, originally from Oberesslingen, emigrated to Norway in 1933 as an opponent of National Socialism, where his visual language changed fundamentally under the influence of Nordic nature, culture and society. The work of the Indian-French artist Nadira Husain reflects the transcultural experiences of a post-migrant second generation. Ahmed Umar fled from Sudan to Norway to lead a life as a queer artist in harmony with his spiritual roots.

The show (08.11.2025 – 12.04.2026) presents newly created works by Husain and Umar as well as previously unseen works by Nesch from the collection of the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, complemented by national and international loans.

In the publication accompanying the exhibition, international art scholars explore the influence of experiences of flight and migration on the artistic productions of Nesch, Husain and Umar.