Press releases

Opening of the Special Exhibition

Ink Meets Sumi-e. Inkwells and Sumi-e Drawings
September 26, 2026, through April 18, 2027

Opening: Friday, September 25, 7:00 p.m. Free admission!

When artfully designed inkwells meet modern ink drawings, an unusual dialogue between the past and the present unfolds at the Couven Museum. The special exhibition “Ink Meets Ink. Inkwells and Ink Drawings,” running from September 26, 2026, through April 18, 2027, features around 70 historic Art Nouveau inkwells and writing sets, as well as eleven ink drawings created specifically for the exhibition by Aachen-based artist Stephan Wunsch. “It has now become part of the museum’s core identity to engage in successful and diverse collaborations: with artists, museums, collectors, and even the city library,” emphasizes Heinrich Brötz, head of the cultural affairs department.

The historical writing instruments come from the collection of Dr. Julius Rohm, which is now part of the Zons District Museum’s collection and has been loaned for this exhibition. These artistically crafted objects are juxtaposed with ink drawings by Stephan Wunsch, whose motifs are inspired by the historical writing instruments and the unique atmosphere of the Couven Museum. “As an enriching addition, the exhibition also features two recent archaeological finds from Aachen: a stylus dating from the 14th to 16th centuries and a sand sprinkler dating from around 1700,” says Prof. Dr. Frank Pohle, director of Route Charlemagne.

Art Nouveau: Between Function and Art

The approximately 70 inkwells and writing sets illustrate the special significance of Art Nouveau in the design of writing instruments. “We bring together the themes of writing, drawing, and communication, and show how ink and Indian ink have become—and can still become—vehicles for memories, ideas, and creative expression far beyond their practical function,” explains curator Carmen Roebers.

This style, which emerged around 1890, blended art and everyday life and viewed functionality and artistic design as a unified whole. The works of the Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik (WMF) illustrate this particularly well. Organically curved lines, floral ornaments, geometric shapes, as well as female figures, mythological creatures, and depictions of animals characterize the diverse range of motifs.
Among the extraordinary exhibits is a writing set in the shape of a sailing ship, steered by a female figure at the helm. Another highlight is a writing set shaped like an airplane, reflecting the fascination with the technical developments of early aviation. Mythological creatures such as griffins, sphinxes, and sirens, as well as figures from European folklore, are also featured in the exhibition. These objects tell us more than just about aesthetic preferences. As status symbols, they also reflect the social ideals of their time. Writing sets could serve as visible indicators of prosperity, educational aspirations, cultural taste, and social standing.

Stephan Wunsch: Ink as a Living Medium
Stephan Wunsch contrasts these historical objects with a contemporary perspective. For the exhibition, the Aachen-based draftsman, puppeteer, and author has created new ink drawings. In doing so, he draws on specific motifs from the inkwells—such as hunting scenes and depictions of animals—and combines them with symbolic and associative meanings.
People, animals, and hybrid creatures are at the center of his work. Some drawings also serve as preliminary studies for his sculptural figures. One example is the harp bird from his production “Die Windsbraut,” which is also on view in the exhibition.
For Wunsch, a particular appeal of ink lies in its own life: the interplay between pen and liquid creates unpredictable effects that transform the drawing process into a lively and expressive experience.

A dialogue between past and present

“Ink Meets Ink Wash” juxtaposes historical writing instruments and contemporary art in terms of material, form, and meaning. While the inkwells reflect the aesthetic ideals, technical achievements, and social notions of the era in which they were created, Stephan Wunsch focuses on the artistic expressive possibilities of ink as a medium.
To accompany the exhibition, the Couven Museum is offering a diverse program of educational activities and events, including public and family tours, workshops, a day of activities, a family event, and a closing event featuring a tandem tour and a reading.

Curator: Carmen Roebers

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Supporting program

Thu, Oct. 1, 5:00 p.m. – approx. 7:00 p.m.

"Ink Meets Ink" Meets "Late at the Market"

After a guided tour of the special exhibition “Ink Meets Sumi: Inkwells and Sumi-e Drawings” with Julia Samp, participants are invited to round out the evening at the “Spät am Markt” after-work market, share their impressions, and strike up conversations with one another.

Meeting point: Museum
ticket office; museum admission plus €5.00

Registration:
Museumsdienst Aachen
museumsdienst@mail.aachen.de
Tel.: 0241 432-4998

Public Tours
: Sun, Oct. 18, Nov. 15, Dec. 13, 2026,
Jan. 17, Feb. 21, Mar. 21, 2027, at 1:30 p.m.

each day Family Tours
: Sun., Nov. 29, Tue, Dec. 29, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.

Art Route – Guided Tours of the Special Exhibition
Sat, Sept. 26, 2026, 3:00 p
.m. Public tour with Dr. Gudrun Liegl-Raditschnigg

Sun, Sept. 27, 2026, 1:30 p
.m. Curator-led tour with Carmen Roebers
Free admission!

Stories at the Museum
: “Inkwell and Flea Trap” – On the Magic of Things.
Fri, Nov. 20, 2026, 3:30–4:30 p.m.
Aachen City Library, Couven Museum, and storyteller Lotte von der Inde in celebration of National Reading Aloud Day.
Free admission!

A discovery tour into the new year!
Fri, Jan. 1, 2027, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Children’s scavenger hunt—no registration required. Free admission!

Workshops—Get Creative.
“Creative Writing”
Sat, Nov. 14, 2026; Sat, Feb. 27, 2027, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
with Dr. Gudrun Liegl-Raditschnigg Cost: Museum admission
Max. number of participants: 10 people Registration at: museumsdienst@mail.aachen.de

Other workshop offerings: www.couven-museum.de.

To mark International Women’s Day on March
8, a special event will be held on Sunday, March 7, 2027, in conjunction with the special exhibition:
“Finding a Voice Through Ink – WRITING, READING, PARTICIPATING”
from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Free admission!

Closing
event: Sunday, April 18, 2027, 1:30–4:30 p.m.
Tandem tour and reading
: Stephan Wunsch and Carmen Roebers will co-lead a tour of the special exhibition. Afterward, Stephan Wunsch will read from his book “Verrufene Tiere.”
Cost: Museum admission plus €10 for the guided tour and reading

For the latest information on events, guided tours, and the accompanying program, please visit our website: www.couven-museum.de. 

Service:
Couven Museum
, Hühnermarkt 17
, 52062 Aachen
, Tel. +49 241 432-4421
, info@couven-museum.de

Hours
: Tue–Sun and on holidays, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; closed on Mondays