Behind the longest Bible in the world is a person from Baden-Württemberg: Wilhelm "Willy" Wiedmann. In 16 years he illustrated a worldwide unique cycle of 3,333 hand-painted color tablets, summarized in 19 leporellos. The Wiedmann Bible can now be seen in an exhibition at the State Representation in Berlin.
On November 24, 2021, the son of the artist Wilhelm “Willy” Wiedmann, Martin Wiedmann, will hand over a copy of the Wiedmann Bible to the federal state's representative, State Secretary Rudi Hoogvliet. The Wiedmann Bible consists of 3,333 pictures and is the only bible in the world that reproduces the entire Old and New Testament in pictures. It can be viewed in the library of the state representation.
Martin Wiedmann discovered the 1.2 km long Leporello after the death of his father. Wilhelm "Willy" Wiedmann from Baden-Württemberg worked on the work of art for 16 years (1984-2000). Since printing technology was not that advanced at the time, Wiedmann was unable to publish his work. After the discovery, his son Martin took on the challenge of continuing his dream.
Exhibition in the state representation in Berlin
“I am very pleased that we are exhibiting Wilhelm Wiedmann's life's work here in the state representation. It is also a premiere exhibition, because this work of art can now also be seen in Berlin for the first time. In an impressive way, Wiedmann lets the Old and New Testament emerge iconographically, thus releasing the viewer into another dimension. Despite or especially during these pandemic times, we would like to create a special place for this year's Advent season with this remarkable exhibition in the state representation ", says the representative of the state of Baden-Württemberg at the federal government, Rudi Hoogvliet.
“When I found the 19 Leporello books in the attic eight years ago, I knew that this Bible was something special. At the time, however, I did not expect that one day I would have the opportunity for my father's work to find a place in the Baden-Württemberg state representation. It is therefore a special honor for me to be able to present this illustrated Bible as a gift to the authorized representative, ”says Martin Wiedmann.
This exceptional work will be on display in the state representation from November 25, 2021 to January 6, 2022. Due to the pandemic, the exhibition will open digitally. Visitors can register for a time slot to visit the State Representation via the State Representation's website (the 2G rule applies to admission, as of November 23, 2021).
The Wiedmann Bible ART Edition
The ART-Edition is the limited edition of the Wiedmann Bible in book form. It was created in collaboration with the German Bible Society and the renowned photographer and designer Manfred Rieker. The edition contains the complete images of the original and is supplemented by comments and a biography of the artist and various Bible verses from the revised Luther Bible 2017. The gold edition is limited to 333 copies, the red and black editions to 3,000. In addition to the Baden-Württemberg State Representation, the Gutenberg Museum, the Bavarian State Library in Munich, the Duchess Anna Amalia Library in Weimar, the Bibliorama Bible Museum in Stuttgart and the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C. (USA), the largest Bible museum in the world, has added the Wiedmann Bible ART Edition to its inventory.
