?The night is not just for sleeping, the night is for what happens? was a popular song in the late 1930s. The message of the song has changed little to this day; the night is still surrounded by the magic of the unusual, the literally unusual. A new exhibition at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena is now focussing in particular on the party night with its promises and dangers. The exhibition ?Die Nacht in der Lichtstadt? (The Night in the City of Light) will open on 23 April in the exhibition space in the University Main Building (Fürstengraben 1) and will be on display until 1 June.

The exhibition includes a whistle, pepper spray and condoms

?The night with its possibilities and dangers has hardly been scientifically researched?, says Prof. Dr Victoria Hegner. The cultural anthropologist from the University of Jena spent two semesters working with students to fill this gap and research the night as a space of experience. The results of their work can be seen in the new exhibition. The aim is to take visitors into the night, into the world of dancing and partying, to the places of parties and into that in-between realm of day and night that the ?Sp?tis? stand for.

In contrast to the day, the party night is characterised by different behaviour, different feelings, a different approach to time and the body, says Victoria Hegner. Night work, on the other hand, is more of an attempt to bring the normality of daytime work into the night. The special night-time dangers are not ignored. Night owls naturally pack defence and self-defence tools in their handbags, including pepper spray and a whistle, as well as condoms.

Nocturnal scenes captured in ?Nightdrawings?

Visitors to the exhibition can immerse themselves sensually and atmospherically in Jena's nightlife at audio stations. Ethnographic vignettes also offer excursions to well-known party locations such as Rosenkeller, Kassablanca or Café Wagner. ?The focus is not on perfection, but on the spontaneous, the intoxicating?, says Victoria Hegner.

Another nocturnal observation takes centre stage in the show: the disappearance of contours and clear images; only what is illuminated and the light itself is visible. Following an idea by London artist Chantal Meng, the students have created so-called ?Nightdrawings? and captured the night-time scenery of Jena in all its lighting conditions. They will also be shown in the exhibition.

You can dance to the exhibition opening

The exhibition ?The Night in the City of Light? will be opened on 23 April at 6 pm. A DJ will be playing at the opening, there will be a small snack and the opportunity to dance. The exhibition in the main building of the University of Jena is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, an accompanying programme will be prepared. Admission is free.