(openPR) - The Linden-Museum Stuttgart is presenting in cooperation with the Russian Museum of Ethnography (Saint Petersburg) the exhibition “Shamans of Siberia: Magicians, Intermediaries, Healers” from December 13, 2008 until June 28, 2009.

Siberia is known as a land of diverse climates and extraordinary landscapes. Its widely unknown wilderness and the fascinating cultures of its indigenous peoples have always attracted researchers and visitors to learn more about that part of the world. This exhibition highlights the ancient belief systems of Siberian peoples to deal with the world beyond. In their view, spirits choose humans to become shamans to act in altered states of mind as intermediaries between the spirit realm and the human world in times of anxiety and crisis.

The exhibition relates to individual shamans who had lived around the turn to the 20th century. Their costumes and their regalia, such as their drums, are shown. Their songs and practices are depicted in special multimedia installations. Furthermore, contemporary artists show their works that deal with shamanic ideas and motifs.

In this unique exhibition the Linden-Museum Stuttgart and Russian Museum of Ethnography in Saint Petersburg presents 160 of the most outstanding objects worldwide on this theme for the first time in Germany. It sheds light into the fruitful international cooperation between both institutions.

A special program will complement the exhibition with music and dance performances by artists from Siberia, film events, workshops, and lectures. A special children’s program will be arranged to stir up interest among younger visitors for these widely unknown and exciting worlds of Siberia.

An exhibition catalogue is available.

Entrance fee: € 7,-/5,-

Linden-Museum Stuttgart
State Museum of Ethnology

The Linden-Museum Stuttgart is one of Europe’s most important ethnographic museums. Within its walls are presented seven permanent exhibitions of African, South Asian, East Asian, Oriental, and North and South American art and culture. Numbered among its treasures and attractions there are a Tibetan temple, a Japanese teahouse and an Oriental bazaar. The permanent displays are regularly complemented with special exhibitions and cultural programmes such as lectures and other attractive events. As an integral part of Stuttgart’s cultural heritage, every visitor to the city should take the time to visit this unique museum.

The name “Linden-Museum” commemorates Karl Graf von Linden (1838-1910), who as president of the Württemberg Society for Trade and Geography had global contacts, enabling him to lay down the foundations of the present magnificent collections. Von Linden invited such notables as Roald Amundsen and Sven Hedin to Stuttgart.

Linden-Museum Stuttgart
State Museum of Ethnology
Hegelplatz 1
D-70174 Stuttgart / Germany

Public Relations
Martin Otto-Hörbrand
phone: ++49-(0)711-2022-444
info@lindenmuseum.de