Nature in Art – Art in Nature

This joint guided tour organised by the Hamburger Kunsthalle and the Museum of Nature Hamburg brings together art education and biodiversity research, opening up new perspectives on art, nature and our perception of both through dialogue.

Why are we fascinated by spiders and scorpions – and why do they simultaneously trigger unease or fear? Spider researcher Dr Danilo Harms and art educator Dr Lilian Adlung-Schönheit will guide visitors through the scientific spider and scorpion collection at the Museum der Natur Hamburg, exploring the images and meanings that people have attributed to these creatures over the centuries.

From Arachne in Greek mythology, through historical depictions of spiders and scorpions, to Spider-Man and other figures from pop culture: through a dialogue between art and biology, we can see how our view of these creatures has changed – and what their portrayal reveals about our relationship with them.