Verschiedene bunte Comicfiguren und Objekte auf rosa Hintergrund, darunter ein Mann am Schreibtisch, ein Mann auf rotem Sofa, ein Astronaut, ein Roboter, ein Bär und eine Frau mit besorgtem Gesichtsausdruck

Many Ways of Imagining the Future – How Comics Make Our Questions About the World Visible

07/26/2026

Comics tell stories in a unique way. They can make complex themes visible, reach different audiences, and open up new perspectives on our present and the future.

What might our future look like? “UTOPIA – Breakthrough or Collapse?” does not offer a single answer. Instead, it brings together more than thirty comic artists and illustrators from the Hanover region, across Germany, and beyond, transforming the Abbey in Wunstorf into a place where comics become a medium for imagination, questions, and new perspectives.

Future Visions, Science Fiction and New Worlds

Many artists in the exhibition use comics to create possible futures. . Andreas Wehrheim and Bernd Frenz presen “Building Cleaning of the Futuret“ a science-fiction project connecting visions of tomorrow with social and economic themes. Bernd Frenz ist mit dem Projekt „Alpha Mods“ dabei. Jan Bintakies creates „Mangrovia“, a fictional treehouse city – the last metropolis in the world. In “Rust-Bucket Ride to Babel (RB2)”, Hannah Kronen explores a science-fiction utopia where coexistence is possible despite radical differences. Ralf Marczinczik pays homage to "Valérian and Laureline,” a science fiction classic that has had a lasting influence on works such as “Star Wars” and “The Fifth Element.”

Jürgen Speh (Geier), known for his work in comics and illustration, as well as Michael Vogt and Olaf Brill with their science-fiction stories, represent different forms of future storytelling. Thilo Krapp has become particularly known for his highly detailed graphic novel adaptations of major science-fiction and literary classics.

Photo of the exhibition space at The Abbey

Society, Humor and Critical Perspectives

Comics can entertain, but they can also question and comment on social developments. Bela Sobottke, Georg von Westphalen, Miguel Fernandez and Matthias Vogel represent different approaches to humor, observation, and critical reflection.

Artists such as Mameiand Ron DMC Kruse further demonstrate how closely comics, satire, and social reflection can be connected.

Graphic Novels, Illustration, History and Personal Narratives

Another focus of the exhibition lies on narrative and illustrative approaches that exist between comics, art, and visual storytelling. Jennifer Daniel, Josephine Mark, Susanne Kuhlendahl,Matthias Lehmann, Uli Oesterle and Stephan Probst represent different ways of telling stories through images.

Heiner Bade is represented through his well-known comic works featuring the hero “Phantom” and through his artistic exploration of surreal visual worlds. Jörg Hartmann combines comics, illustration, and classical painting in an unusual way.

Dagmar Gosejacob, David von Bassewitz and Julia Briemle further expand the exhibition’s range through their individual approaches to drawing and storytelling.

Diversity of Styles and Artistic Perspectives

The exhibition demonstrates that comics do not have a single visual language. Different techniques, themes, and viewpoints come together. The participating artists include Gernod Gayk, Hatiye Garip, Jan Thüring, Moritz von Wolzogen, Timo Würz, Xu JingRu, and Zoe Tschöke, as well as students from the Media Design program at Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts.

The spectrum ranges from individual drawing styles and experimental approaches to works connected with social and ecological engagement. Hatiye Garip places particular emphasis on making her works accessible without barriers. Timo Würz combines his artistic practice with his commitment to nature and species protection; his works are represented internationally in galleries and museums.

We invite you to visit the exhibition website. UTOPIA – Breakthrough or Collapse?