Dresden art exhibition faces protests over artist's ties to Till Lindemann

An exhibition by Dresden artist Holger John at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste (HfBK) has been met with protests from students, who object to John's association with musician Till Lindemann. Before the April 30 vernissage, there were warnings of disruptions; a banner was cut, and a gate was repeatedly blocked with locks. During a meeting with the rectorate, students demanded the exhibition's closure. The protest targets John personally, not his work. At the vernissage, images were distributed showing John with Lindemann at a previous exhibition at John's gallery. Lindemann faced serious allegations in 2023, which he denied, and the Berlin public prosecutor's office dropped the investigation in August 2023. John called the conclusions drawn from the photo absurd, stating he has done nothing wrong and that the university would not have invited him otherwise. He considers the actions damaging to his reputation and business. The university's rector Oliver Kossack and chancellor Jochen Beißert do not know who is behind the protests. The HfBK has filed a criminal complaint against unknown persons, restored access after each incident, and increased security. Students have criticized the decision to host the exhibition, questioning why a successful gallery owner is using university space that could be for students. The exhibition runs until next Sunday.