Under the title "A painter as field researcher", the exhibition features sculptures and oil paintings from Gustav Hagemann's artistic life's work and Sami incised drawings made on his behalf, which have been in the possession of the city of Salzgitter along with his work for 40 years. The exhibition shows Hagemann as a painter and researcher of everyday life and the world of the Sami.

The exhibition traces both of Hagemann's interests: the painting of Nordic landscapes and the passionate exploration of Sami culture. Works by Gustav Hagemann can be seen here alongside the carvings of the Sami, which are presented on a scale never shown before.

The artist became famous for his expressionist works, which he produced on his travels in Norway and Finland. The vastness, the light, the nature of the north and the culture of the Sami inspired the artist to collect and research in addition to painting and drawing.

For many years, Hagemann spent months at a time in Scandinavia, where he lived and worked as an artist. During his travels, he made numerous contacts with the Sami and had the opportunity to accompany the families on their hikes. Inspired by the traditional carving art of the Sami and its wealth of motifs, Gustav Hagemann decided to take a series of copper plates with him to give to friends, asking them to capture their lives on them.

Hagemann was aware of the pressure under which the original formal language of the Sami was under with the ever advancing civilization. With his works, the Salzgitter native tried to preserve this culture and art. He created a unique series of drypoint etchings, which resulted in a complex portfolio after his return.