When can the exhibition Wow! Lightning! be seen in Hof?

The exhibition can be seen from October 30, 2026, to April 4, 2027, at the Museum of Bavarian Vogtland.

What is the entrance fee?

The regular entrance fee is 5 euros.

What can be discovered in the exhibition?

Historical curses, international insults, information on cursing prohibitions, digital hate speech, as well as interactive media and participatory stations are on display.

Is there a regional part dedicated to Hof's language culture?

Yes, the museum complements the traveling exhibition with regional swear words, curses, and sayings from Hof and the Hof Land.

Is the museum accessible for people with disabilities?

The event information classifies the museum as accessible.

What are the opening hours during the exhibition?

The museum is open Tuesday to Friday from 12 PM to 4 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 1 PM to 6 PM. It is closed on Mondays.

Wow! Lightning! Discover the Fascinating Power of Words at the Museum of Bavarian Vogtland

Name: Exhibition: Wow! Lightning! From the Curse of the Pharaoh to Hate Speech
Start: 2026-10-30T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2027-04-04T18:00:00+02:00
Location: Museum Bayerisches Vogtland

When Words Make History: Wow! Lightning! in Hof

The Museum of Bavarian Vogtland will dedicate itself from October 30, 2026, to a linguistic phenomenon that is as ordinary as it is powerful: cursing and swearing. The exhibition Wow! Lightning! From the Curse of the Pharaoh to Hate Speech spans from ancient curses to digital hate speech, connecting cultural-historical context with interactive communication.

From Cuneiform to Smartphone

Curated by Dr. Rolf-Bernhard Essig, the traveling exhibition takes a broad sweep through the history of language. Historical curses, religious imprecations, international insults, and modern forms of hate speech demonstrate how language exerts power, marks boundaries, and makes social conflicts visible.

The exhibition considers expletives not only as taboos. They appear as expressions of religion, magic, superstition, emotion, and social order. Cursing prohibitions, amulets, insults using animal names, and gender-specific slurs are also examined in their cultural contexts.

Interactive Stations for a Lively Exploration of Works

Historical objects, media stations, and participatory offers turn the presentation into an immediate artistic experience of cultural education. A curse generator, international phrases, and illustrative information on what happens in the brain when swearing invite personal exploration of the work.

The atmosphere of the exhibition oscillates between humor and social seriousness. Visitors encounter language as audible, visible, and changeable material. The transition from verbal outbursts in traffic and soccer to cyberbullying and digital hate speech opens a critical perspective on communication in everyday life.

Hof Speaks for Itself: Regional Curse Culture

The Museum of Bavarian Vogtland complements the traveling exhibition with a regional perspective. Contributions from Hof and the Hof Land make local expletives, curses, and sayings visible and audible. This connects the exhibition's language history with memory, dialect, and regional identity.

The aesthetic experience here arises less from classical painting or sculpture than through written images, historical documents, media presentations, and interactive situations. Language becomes a cultural exhibit: surprising, physically palpable, and immediately present.

An Exhibition Experience for Families, School Classes, and Language Enthusiasts

Wow! Lightning! is aimed at everyone interested in cultural history, language development, media, and social communication. The combination of scientific research, humorous presentation, and critical reflection creates access for different age groups and is particularly suitable for a common engagement with language, respect, and digital responsibility.

Conclusion: Experience the Power of Words Live

In the Museum of Bavarian Vogtland, visitors can expect an unusual, educational, and interactive exhibition about the history and present of cursing. Those who want to experience language as a cultural practice, discover regional peculiarities, and think about hate speech will find a striking artistic experience here. A visit enriches both the aesthetic experience and cultural education.