A touching new photography exhibition called "Time Journeys" opens this Sunday at Villa Wippermann in Halver, Germany, featuring the work of photographer Rüdiger vom Brocke from Kierspe. The exhibition showcases 122 people photographed alongside their beloved childhood toys, creating an emotional bridge between past and present through black-and-white photography.
The project began in January of last year and concluded with the final photographs taken in April of this year. Vom Brocke was inspired to pursue this theme after hearing the classic hit song "Ich und Rocky Waschbär" (Me and Rocky Raccoon) by Mischa, which also served as inspiration for the naming of mascot raccoon Willi Wippermann. Behind every doll, stuffed animal, homemade soapbox car, or eyeless monkey lies a story worth telling, according to the photographer.
Similar to his previous chair project that captivated many viewers, vom Brocke approached people from his circle and strangers he encountered randomly, asking them about their favorite childhood toys. He found participants through WhatsApp, Facebook, his chair project, and chance meetings. Eighty percent of the "time travelers" in this new exhibition are participating for the first time, many of whom had expressed interest in joining a second project after missing the chair series.
Each participant was photographed at home in their familiar surroundings, with vom Brocke creating multiple images of each person. The series includes one photo with mascot raccoon Willi Wippermann, who served as both an icebreaker and conversation starter, another with their specific toy, a portrait, and a standalone image of the toy itself. Many participants still had their original childhood toys preserved, while others repurchased them specifically for the project.
The photographer chose to work exclusively in black and white, his preferred medium, believing it reduces the image to its essential elements. "We want to achieve that everyone recalls their memories," vom Brocke explained. The toys featured are as diverse as the participants themselves, ranging from Memory games and Lego sets to teddy bears, each carrying deeply personal and often moving stories.
A book accompanies the exhibition, which vom Brocke sells at cost price. One dollar from each book sale is designated for a hospice in the East Frisian city of Norden, where crime author Klaus-Peter Wolf lives. Vom Brocke had photographed Wolf during a reading in Schalksmühle the previous year for his project. The book includes a QR code linking to the photographer's homepage, where visitors can access a table that allows them to listen to the original spoken stories behind the toys and their owners.
The exhibition opening begins at 11 a.m. on Sunday, October 19, with vom Brocke personally inviting visitors on these journeys into childhood memories. Villa Wippermann operates on specific hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3 to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs 2 euros for adults and 50 cents for children and teenagers, with the museum run entirely by volunteers and entrance fees serving as donations to support their work.
Vom Brocke will be available for questions on November 2 and 23, December 14, and January 11, all from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. He will conduct guided tours through the exhibition on extended Thursdays (November 20, December 11, and January 8) starting at 7 p.m. Additionally, a guest lecture by Ralf Scherer is scheduled for Saturday, January 10, beginning at 5 p.m.
The photographer's own childhood journey, involving an eyeless monkey and hospital stays, comes alive through the same interactive format. Like his chair project, this exhibition will feature entertaining lectures and guided tours. The touching stories of memory that emerged around the photographs create an atmosphere where visitors are encouraged not just to observe but also to play and engage with their own childhood recollections. The exhibition will run until January 18, 2026, offering an extended opportunity for visitors to experience these emotional time travels.
