Kretschmer: "Combining art and culture"

Saxony and Estonia are expanding their economic and cultural cooperation. In doing so, they can also draw on close ties and similarities in history. "Art and culture connect", said Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) on Wednesday at a ceremony to mark the opening of the "Mirror in Mirror" exhibition in Dresden. It shows how important it is to talk to each other, to be in dialog, and: "We live in the best Europe we have ever had."

Estonia's President opens the exhibition with Kretschmer

Estonia's President Alar Karis pointed out that the two countries have "not only economic, but also many cultural connections". He came to Dresden on a working visit and, following the Estonian-Saxon Economic Forum in the morning, joined Kretschmer to open the exhibition at the Kunsthalle im Lipsiusbau, which is unique in Germany to date.

"Spiegel im Spiegel" (May 8 to August 31) presents Estonian and German art from Lucas Cranach to Gerhard Richter and Arvo Pärt. It is the first cooperation project between the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD) and the Estonian Art Museum in Tallinn. The focus is on the historical and cultural links between the two countries. With around 150 works - paintings, graphics, objects, video and sound installations - it spans the period from the Middle Ages to the present day.

The starting point is the friendship between the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt and the German painter Gerhard Richter. A number of exhibits and works of art can be seen in Germany for the first time, such as original sheet music and sound installations by Pärt - the loans from the Arvo Pärt Center are being shown outside Estonia for the first time.