“Forest Worlds” at the Oberhausen Gasometer
A prehistoric giant deer, wolf howls, award-winning large-format pictures, the sleeping bear and the world's largest indoor light sculpture – the exhibition "Mythos Wald" (Forest Worlds), starting on March 20, 2026, brings our forests to life.
Emotional, surprising, captivating and always scientifically sound: From March 20th to December 30th, 2026, the Gasometer Oberhausen Join us on a journey into the breathtaking beauty of our forests. In various chapters, "Mythos Wald" (Forest Worlds) presents the diversity of our woodlands, whose ecosystems are as varied as the climate zones in which they occur. Tropical rainforests lie around the equator with their lavish abundance, the mightiest trees grow thousands of kilometers further north in California, and Europe's last primeval forest can be found in the Transylvanian Alps. The German forest, often featured in fairy tales and legends, with its oaks, beeches, spruces, and pines, is multifaceted and also a place of longing.
With large-format images and film sequences, some of which are being shown for the first time, the Gasometer demonstrates that forests are more than just a collection of trees. The exhibition focuses on the unique flora and fauna, showcasing a magnificent array of creatures including wolves, sloths, owls, brown bears, a two-and-a-half-meter-long arthropod from the Carboniferous period, and the unique original skeleton of a giant deer that became extinct around 7000 years ago. Often hidden, a completely different world of wonders can be found, comprised of microorganisms such as the adorable tardigrade, ants, and colorful slime molds. The majority of the exhibits are on loan from the Museum Koenig in Bonn, the LWL Museum of Natural History in Münster, and the Ruhr Museum in Essen.
Earth Trilogy
“Our new exhibition ‘Forest Worlds’ is the third part of a trilogy that began with ‘The Fragile Paradise’ in 2021, followed by ‘Planet Ocean’ in 2024,” explains Jeanette Schmitz, curator and managing director of the Gasometer Oberhausen GmbH continues: “What all three exhibitions have in common is the unusual combination of scientific facts and artistic implementation. Thus, ‘Mythos Wald’ (Forest Worlds) documents not only the consequences of climate change but also sustainable solutions and creates an awareness of our Earth as an ecosystem worthy of protection.”
Poetic Dawn
Somewhere in the world, the sun always rises. And so, our audiovisual installation "Global Sunrise" takes you on a sensory journey through the fleeting moment of awakening forests on five continents. Chris Watson, one of the leading specialists in nature sound recordings, captured the sounds of this magical daybreak for us and wove them into an impressive composition. Sound artist Tony Myatt stages it in the Gasometer as an immersive experience.
Theresa Baumgartner, Verena Bachl, and Karsten Schuhl translate the morning soundscapes into a poetic illumination. Tree-like light objects form a forest edge through which the first rays of sunlight gently wander. This Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art) was developed by OCEANS21 from Berlin.
Lebendiger Wald
Almost a third of our planet's land surface is covered by forests. For now, at least, because forested areas are disappearing rapidly. In 2024 alone, 6,7 million hectares of primary rainforest were destroyed. With the interactive exhibit "The Living Forest," Esri (Environmental Systems Research Institute) makes this very change tangible and impressively demonstrates how Earth observation and artificial intelligence make changes in forests visible – from large-scale deforestation to stress signals at the leaf level.
Salgados Amazonia
The photographs of Sebastião Salgado – one of the world's most renowned photographers – offer a focused view of the Amazon basin. With his camera, the recently deceased Brazilian not only portrayed the rainforest, but also the indigenous societies that shape and preserve it. In the industrial atmosphere of the Gasometer, Salgado's unique black-and-white images now present a moving slideshow that vividly illustrates both the diversity and the vulnerability of the Amazon.
Der Baum
The dramatic highlight of the new exhibition "Forest Worlds" is a never-before-realized art sculpture. "The Tree," the world's largest indoor light art installation, offers a unique view from its visually designed root system up into the treetop, which rises 35 meters into the sky of the Gasometer. Trees have always been a part of the human imagination, symbolizing growth, habitat, and protection, while simultaneously serving as a projection screen for fears and longings.
Created by the pioneers of media art, Ars Electronica Solutions from Austria, the monumental art installation builds on this long-standing relationship, but views the tree as a living system of circulation and temporal processes. "The Tree" translates these dynamics into a sensually perceptible event in which light condenses, migrates, and pulsates. In harmony with a specially created musical composition by Rupert Huber, a visual experience of real and abstract creation unfolds in the arena, an experience possible only here in the Gasometer.
The future of forests
Without our forests, life as we know it would hardly be possible. The Gasometer's "Mythos Wald" (Forest Worlds) playfully introduces younger generations to this important topic. In the "WaldRaum" (Forest Space) pavilion on the Gasometer grounds, educators, foresters, and rangers from the Regionalverband Ruhr (RVR) and its subsidiary RVR Ruhr Grün provide information about interesting facts concerning local forests.
Opposite is the "Forest of the Future," a contribution to the International Garden Exhibition 2027. The forest is both a familiar place and something that eludes our complete view. The installation presents glimpses, fragments of the forest, which, together with the thoughts and images of the viewers, coalesce into an individual whole.
Following their successful collaboration on "Planet Ocean," the Postcode Lottery is once again supporting discounted admission for students to our new exhibition. Classes from high school to elementary school can thus visit the educationally relevant exhibition "Forest Worlds."
The new exhibition “Mythos Wald” would not be possible without our partners:
Katja Diemer, Head of Charities at the Postcode Lottery:
“We are delighted that our funding enables us to offer numerous students discounted admission to the Gasometer exhibition. It is important not only to inspire them with the beauty of nature, but also to give them a deeper understanding of the impact of our actions on our environment.”
Prof. Dr. Mariella Herberstein, Deputy Director General of the Leibniz Institute for Biodiversity Change Analysis (LIB):
“For many people, forests are a fascinating place where they can feel especially close to nature. That's why we are so pleased to be able to contribute to showcasing the diversity of this habitat with our exhibits from the LIB's Museum Koenig Bonn. One particularly special object is our giant deer – a skeleton several thousand years old with antlers over three meters wide – which, along with birds of paradise, toucans, sloths, and other specimens, has been moved from Bonn to Oberhausen for the ‘Forest Worlds’ exhibition. Exhibits like these, however, represent only a small fraction of our scientific collections, which comprise more than 16 million objects in total. We use these to scientifically document and analyze the changes in biodiversity. Our research shows us every day how dramatically the loss of species is progressing – including in forests. This makes it all the more important that this exhibition brings the beauty of forests, but also the consequences of their destruction, to the forefront of people's minds in such an impressive way.”
Prof. Dr. Jan Ole Kriegs, Museum Director of the LWL Museum of Natural History:
“I am delighted that the LWL Museum of Natural History can support the Gasometer with loans and content for the very special exhibition project ‘Forest Worlds’. I wish the exhibition every success!”
Bernd Weissner, Chief Marketing Officer Esri Germany:
"Forests are living memories of our planet. From space, we are seeing for the first time their hidden signals of change and vulnerability. With the interactive exhibit 'The Living Forest', we want to show how technology helps us understand and resolutely protect these unique ecosystems."
Nina Frense, RVR Deputy for Environment and Green Infrastructure, is pleased about the close cooperation with the Gasometer.:
"As the Ruhr Regional Association, we will show visitors right next to the Gasometer the diversity of the forest they can experience firsthand here in the Ruhr area. As Germany's largest municipal forest owner and an environmental association, we especially want to convey the world of the forest to children on their doorstep, which will be possible through the many forest education programs in the pavilion."
Hanspeter Faas, spokesperson for the management of IGA 2027 Ruhrgebiet gGmbH:
"With our future forest, we are addressing the 'myth of the forest'. This exhibition contribution offers a glimpse into the IGA 2027, which will combine urban planning milestones in the development of sustainable green spaces in the Ruhr area with Europe's largest garden festival."
A big thank you to the Gasometer Oberhausen for this unique opportunity for cooperation and the cordial invitation to all visitors to stop by the IGA 2027 next year.”
Timm Dolezych, commercial director of evo:
"The exhibition 'Forest Worlds' sends a strong message about the protection of our natural resources. evo is delighted to support this important project as a partner and thus contribute to a socially relevant discussion about our environment."
Christian Basler, technical director of evo:
"The combination of scientifically sound content and impressive media art makes 'Mythos Wald' an extraordinary experience. As evo, we are very pleased to be involved in this forward-looking exhibition and to make sustainable topics visible in our region."
Matthias Kremin, Head of Programming WDR 5:
“We are delighted to be supporting the new exhibition at the Gasometer. For years, we have been a proud media partner of this unique venue in the Ruhr region, which illuminates and brings to life major themes from a wide range of perspectives. The exhibitions at the Gasometer are therefore a perfect fit.” Gasometer Oberhausen "Perfect for the WDR 5 program."
Jürgen Schaefer, Editor-in-Chief of GEO:
“What GEO and the Gasometer Oberhausen What unites them is a fascination with the diversity of nature and a passion for outstanding photography. The 'myth of the forest' also captivates the GEO editorial team; the special issue "GEO Perspective" will be published this fall, featuring reports and photo essays on the topic. We wish the Gasometer every success with the new exhibition!
Dr. Heide Naderer, State Chairwoman of NABU NRW:
"Our forest is home not only to trees, wood and moss, but also to many highly endangered species, such as the fire salamander. NABU NRW is pleased to be able to present the forest habitat of the fire salamander as part of the exhibition."
Implementation and conception
This exhibition was also curated under the direction of Jeanette Schmitz, together with Thomas Wolf and Nils Sparwasser.
“Mythos Wald” is being realized by the Gasometer Oberhausen The exhibition is presented by GmbH in cooperation with the Museum Koenig, Bonn, and the LWL Museum of Natural History, with the generous support of the German Postcode Lottery. Additional partners supporting the exhibition include the Ruhr Regional Association, the International Garden Exhibition 2027, Esri (Environmental Systems Research Institute), Energieversorgung Oberhausen (evo), and NABU. Media partners are WDR 5 and GEO.
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Picture: The Tree – Art Installation, © Ars Electronica Solutions
Further high-resolution images are available in the press section of our website www.gasometer.de available for download. Please note the corresponding image credits.
Press contact:
Anja Keienburg & Dirk Böttger, Gasometer Oberhausen GmbH, Press and Public Relations, Tel.: 0208 / 850 37 35, Fax: 0208 / 850 37 33, E-Mail: presse@gasometer.de, Essener Straße 3, 46047 Oberhausen, www.gasometer.de