Underwater World
Stories from the Depths of Lake Starnberg

16 March to 24 August 2025 

Lake Starnberg is one of Germany’s deepest and largest lakes. Nestled between forested hills, with castles and historic villas lining its shores, it is also among the most picturesque. Shaped by Ice Age glaciers, the lake reaches depths of up to 128 meters. Beneath its surface lies a hidden world largely unseen by most – a realm rich in life and history, where nature and science intertwine.

This exhibition takes visitors into the lake’s shadowy depths, where remnants long forgotten on land still linger. The stories explore underwater life, intricate ecosystems and interconnections, as well as parasitic relationships, along with sunken boats, lost lives, and the extraordinary World Heritage Site of Rose Island. These narratives come to life through audio recordings recorded for the exhibition by Beate Himmelstoss and produced by Michael Gottfried.

Accompanying the stories are artworks by Anna Pasco Bolta and Eduardo Palomares, along with a sound installation by Andreas Ammer and Acid Pauli.

The exhibition was developed in collaboration with the Institute of Fisheries at the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture, the Bavarian Society for Underwater Archaeology, and the German Aerospace Center.

Curated by Daniel Kofler and Benjamin Tillig, with support from Karina Pastiu and Julius Pfefferle.

Sponsored by the Lake Starnberg Museum Friends Association.

special thanks to
Robert Angermayr, Dr. Martinus Fesq-Martin, Dr. Markus Gschwind, Fischerfamilie Huber, Dr. Stefan Plattner, Dr. Michael Schubert, Dr. Helmut Wedekind