Alexander Kluy

The umbrella is far more than a mundane everyday object that we only take outside because we don't want to get wet. An umbrella is a roof without a house, a micro-universe above our heads that becomes its own climate zone around us, where it gets damp but not wet, cool but not cold, shady but not dark. We stretch it out and it gives us a bit of security in an unfriendly environment. And perhaps the umbrella is the most frequently used accessory in the history of literature and art. Umbrellas are used to commit crimes, to fly, dance, celebrate and much more. Alexander Kluy takes a walk through the world of the umbrella that is anything but dry - from its invention to its far-reaching cultural and art history to its amusing misuse.