Imaginarium

Step into a world that lies between the pages of a book and the stage, between reality and fantasy. The Czech artists’ collective led by Matěj Forman invites you on a journey through images, characters and stories – and to explore the question of how storytelling actually comes about.

The Czech Republic, Guest of Honour at the 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair, holds a special distinction: its traditional puppet theatre is listed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. For generations, stories here have not only been written, but also carved, built, animated and illuminated. Words are transformed into characters, drawings into scenes, pages into spaces. This vibrant storytelling tradition forms the very heartbeat of the IMAGINARIUM.

This labyrinthine installation guides you through artfully crafted worlds created by various craftspeople. It invites you to discover, experiment and marvel. How does text in a book tell a story? How does an image tell a story? How does a sequence of moving images tell a story? And how does one’s own story begin?

The Literaturhaus München presents literary and visual storytelling here in a unique way. For stories do not exist solely in text – they also unfold in space, in materials, and in the interplay of light and movement. The IMAGINARIUM brings to life what lies at the very heart of literature: the power of the imagination.

Last edited on 22.09.2026