Jacques Tilly: Wer hat Angst vor Pappmaché? – Bildervortrag und Book Release

For decades, Jacques Tilly has consistently and unwaveringly dedicated his artistic work to the cause of an open society, even in the face of fierce personal hostility. He has politicized Carnival and, for over 40 years, has used the stage of Rose Monday to present his sharp and incisive critique of ideology to hundreds of thousands of people lining the streets. 

 
He shies away from no controversy, no confrontation with state power or influential institutions: whoever attacks democracy and human rights can be sure of being critically portrayed in the form of large-scale satirical sculptures, which are increasingly being used outside the context of Carnival as well. Numerous NGOs and political activists from Germany and abroad now use Tilly’s three-dimensional XXL caricatures to draw attention to their causes. 

 
In late 2025, criminal proceedings were initiated against Jacques Tilly in Russia. His float, which was critical of Putin, was accused of spreading “false information about the Russian military” and “offending religious sensibilities.” In April 2026, a Moscow court sentenced him to eight and a half years in a penal colony. The case was covered by the international press for weeks, as the proceedings are unprecedented and represent a new escalation in Putin’s crackdown on freedom of expression and artistic freedom. 

In his slide presentation, Jacques Tilly will discuss his long-standing work and the recent political events surrounding it. He will also present his new book, *Who’s Afraid of Papier-mâché?* (Alibri), which he co-edited with Eva Creutz. The book contains numerous images, texts, and statements regarding many political floats from 2021 to 2026, as well as the farce surrounding his conviction by the Russian state. It will be available in stores starting October 8 or can be pre-ordered here (click).

Moderator: Eva Creutz 
Moderator for live chat and online discussion: Katrin Wiesemann 
Live stream: Ricarda Hinz 

A collaborative event organized by DA!, Alibri Verlag, and ver.di’s Düssel-Rhein-Wupper district.
With the kind support of the Giordano Bruno Foundation.