The special exhibition “Hans Sima – a political life” at the Werner Berg Museum
On Wednesday, October 1st, 2025, the Werner Berg Museum Bleiburg/Pliberk opens a meaningful special exhibition on the political work of Hans Sima, who was governor of Carinthia from 1965 to 1974.
Entitled “Hans Sima – A Political Life,” this multifaceted retrospective impressively documents Sima’s contribution to Carinthian contemporary history. The exhibition was created in cooperation with the Museum of the City of Villach, VICCA, and the Hans Sima Private Foundation and can be seen until November 9, 2025, in the creative space of the Werner Berg Museum next to the current exhibitions “Pasolini, Berg, Hrdlicka” and “Hans-Peter Profunser.”
Political milestones in pictures
The exhibition is designed as a traveling exhibition and has already been shown in Villach and Klagenfurt. Museum director Arthur Ottowitz points out the regional connection and historical significance: “Former governor Hans Sima had close ties to Bleiburg/Pliberk and the Werner Berg Gallery.” The exhibition reconstructs Sima’s political life through photographic highlights – from his early days as a member of parliament to his retirement from politics. The focus is not only on the 1972 conflict over bilingual place-name signs, but also on Sima’s role as a bridge builder between cultures and nations in the Alps-Adriatic region.
Exhibition in four languages – a symbol of his vision
A key feature of the exhibition is its multilingualism: all content is available in German, English, Italian, and Slovenian. This reflects Sima’s political vision of positioning Carinthia as an active partner at the intersection of three countries.
“Sima planned to give Austria’s southernmost province an active role at the intersection of the three countries Austria, Italy, and the former Yugoslavia. He therefore intensified specific projects within the framework of the Alps-Adriatic Cooperation. The fact that this exhibition is presented in four languages is designed to underline this,” emphasizes contemporary history professor Oliver Rathkolb, who curated the exhibition together with Villach museum director Andreas Kuchler and contemporary historian Petra Mayrhofer.
A peek into the private archive
The exhibition is being financed by the Hans Sima Private Foundation, which is dedicated to researching Carinthia’s contemporary history. Its chairwoman is Ulli Sima, Vienna’s acting city councilor for urban development, mobility, and public utilities, and granddaughter of the former governor. “The events surrounding the 1972 place name dispute preoccupied my grandfather until his death. He meticulously collected notes, photos, and other documents from his active career and made them available to posterity by establishing the Hans Sima Private Foundation,” recalls Ulli Sima.
With its stop in Bleiburg/Pliberk, the exhibition is now also finding its way to a particularly symbolic area of Carinthia—a mark of dialogue and recognition.
A politician at the front line of historical tensions
Hans Sima was a politician who bore responsibility in turbulent times – not only in Carinthia, but also beyond the state borders. For Governor Peter Kaiser, one thing is certain: “He was ahead of his time, not only in connection with the place name sign issue, which left him with a certain trauma. Today is the time to officially say thank you to Hans Sima. He was a great governor and set an important course for our state. Throughout his life, he stood up for his convictions and beliefs.“ Oliver Rathkolb classifies Sima historically as a ”modernizing personality.“
Multimedia approaches and accessible communication
An additional highlight of the exhibition is the inclusion of representative excerpts from the ORF III documentary “Hans Sima: A Politician’s Life in Turbulent Times.” An audio guide in four languages not only makes the exhibition more accessible to international guests, but also assists visually impaired visitors on their tour.
Political work with a lasting legacy
Hans Sima was not only governor, but also a member of the Carinthian state parliament, a member of the Federal Council, and a member of the state council. As a consistent advocate of dialogue, especially with the Slovenian ethnic group, and as a promoter of art, culture, and education—for example, through his support for the founding of the University of Klagenfurt—he left a long-lasting mark. His resignation in 1974 in the wake of the place name sign conflict marked the end of his active political career, but his ideas and work remain highly relevant—as this exhibition impressively demonstrates.
