Rainer Vollkommer

Rainer Vollkommer is a German-Swiss classical archaeologist and art historian.

Biography

Rainer Vollkommer studied classical archaeology, prehistory, history of art, egyptology and Near and Middle Eastern archaeology at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, between 1978 and 1979. He graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts at the university of Paris IV-Sorbonne where he completed also the master's degree one year later. From 1981 to 1984, he pursued his doctorate degree at Lincoln College, University of Oxford. The supervisor of the doctorate thesis was Sir John Boardman. From 1984 to 1994, Vollkommer worked as a scientific editor at the Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae in Basle, a NGO of the UNESCO. In addition he taught as a lecturer at the universities of Freiburg in Breisgau in Germany and of Fribourg in Switzerland. From 1994 to 1998, Vollkommer was lecturer at the Institute of Classical Archaeology of the University of Leipzig and chief curator of the Museum of Antiquities of the University of Leipzig, where he took part in building the Museum of Antiquities of the University of Leipzig. From 1998 to 2000, he was Professor of Classical Archaeology at the Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg in Breisgau in Germany.
Between 2000 and 2002, Vollkommer was art dealer and expert at the Jean-David Cahn AG in Basle. From 2002 to 2011, Vollkommer was director of the State Museum of Prehistory at Dresden and of the Archaeological Archive of Saxony which were part of the Saxon State Office for Archaeology. In December 2009 he was appointed honorary professor at the Dresden University of Technology.
Vollkommer was director of the Liechtenstein National Museum in Vaduz from April 2011 to July 2024. The Room of Industry at the Liechtenstein National Museum, the complete renewed Postal Museum and in 1915 the new Museum «Treasure Chamber Liechtenstein“ were installed during his direction. In 2023, he became president of the Winckelmann Society in Stendal, having been a member of the board of trustees since 2006 and vice-president since 2009.
He married the archaeologist Doris Vollkommer-Glökler in 1990. They have one daughter.

Memberships

Vollkommer was president of the association „Museums and Castles of the region of the Lake Constance.“, between 2012 and 2015. Vollkommer was founding and board member of «Experience Vaduz», between 2015 and 2023. From 2019 to 2023, he was secretary of EEN. He was member of different international institutions as national correspondent of NEMO, national correspondent of EMF / EMYA, member of the meeting of the directors of the national museums of Austria, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol. He was member of the working team of the German speaking museums of history and also board member of the Austrian Association of Museums and board member of the association „Museums and Castles of the region of the Lake Constance.“

Additional Activities

Since the beginning of the 2010s, Vollkommer was highly committed to the field of digital innovation in museums. The newly established Postal Museum was equipped with a digital letter catalog and a digital travel route from Milan to Lindau. In collaboration with the Institute of Information Systems at the University of Liechtenstein, a crowdsourcing Facebook competition was developed, as well as an augmented reality project for an exhibition with a research project on the effects of augmented reality within virtual learning environments. Other initiatives included the Instagram and Twitter media wall "Liechtenstein Moments," the Digital Museum Innovation Summit, innovation lab project seminars like "Print My Postcard," and the Children's Museum App.
He participated in the four-year EU project "smARTplaces," in which 7 museums from 5 countries and 2 universities from 2 additional countries took part, with Rainer Vollkommer being part of the steering group. Several apps and audio guides in many languages were also created. Furthermore, it was always of great importance to Rainer Vollkommer to enliven a museum through a wide variety of events. For example, at the Liechtenstein National Museum, the number of events increased from around 20 per year when he arrived to 200 per year. In addition to more typical lectures, discussions, readings, and guided tours, small theater performances and dances were also staged.
Notably, many music events were held in Leipzig, Dresden, and Vaduz, including classical music, opera, choral, and folk singing, as well as folk and Latin American music, and rap. In Dresden, in addition to the first major fashion show in East Germany after reunification, the largest disco and music events in Saxony were organized, with between 1,500 and 5,000 participants. Evening presentations held in collaboration with embassies and consulates, where a country was showcased through films, photos, discussions, music events, and tastings, were also of great importance.

Exhibitions

More than 120 special exhibitions were presented under his twelve years of direction. Many of these exhibitions were curated by Rainer Vollkommer. The exhibitions showed a wide range of topics: history, art, culture, customs, society, environment, nature, music, industry and mathematics. Many exhibitions were shown later on in other countries. Many block-buster exhibitions were created. Exhibitions were made in collaboration with more than 20 countries. Some of the exhibitions got loans from 20 to 40 countries. A lot of exhibitions about Liechtenstein were presented, too.

Selected exhibitions

2011/12: Fischwelten, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2011/12: Brieföffner, Postal Museum, Vaduz
2012: Besa: Eine Sache der Ehre – Wie muslimische Albaner Juden retteten, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2012: 1712 – Das Werden eines Landes, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2012/13: Astrophilatelie, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2013: Oliver Marks Blick auf Liechtensteins Staatsfeiertag, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2014: Filz…In Bewegung, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2013/14: Briefe und Texte – Juwelen von Dichterhandschriften aus der deutschen Literatur des 18. und 19. Jh., Postal Museum, Vaduz
2014/15: Der Heilige Nikolaus – Geheimnisvolles, Erdichtetes und Wahres, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2014/15: Winterolympiaden – Briefmarken aus der Sammlung des ehemaligen Schachweltmeisters Anatoli Karpow, Postal Museum, Vaduz
2015: Logos # Mythos – Doncho Donchev, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2015: Family – Werke von Alex Doll, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2015/16: Marilyn – die starke Monroe, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2015: Ein halber Quadtrameter Freiheit – Bilder aus der Haft, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2015: Sagen und Märchen in Meisterwerken Uraler Steinkünstler, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2015/16: Maria – Schätze aus dem Lindenau-Museum in Altenburg, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2016: Chinesische Tierkreiszeichen auf Briefmarken aus dem Shengxiao Briefmarken-Museum in Suzhou, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2016/17: Mythos Olympische Spiele – Von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2016/17: Natura Morta – Oliver Mark, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2017: Grenzen überschreiten – Kana-Kunst von Kaoru Akagawa, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2017: Grenzen Los – Globalisierung und Identität, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2017: Christliche Kunst aus Bulgarien, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2017: Grosse Steppe zu Besuch bei den weisen Bergen, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2017: Olé Dali und Freudismen – Werke von Dimitrije Popovic, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2017/18: Faszination Pyramiden, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2017/18: Hannes Schmid – Concerned Photography, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2018: Zwischen hier und dort – Bilder aus der Haft, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2018: Kleine Schätze aus Amiens, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2018: Die Welt des Han Meilin, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2018: Eleganz und Geniessen – Alltagsleben, Weisheiten und Kunst in der chinesischen Kultur. Literati und Qi Baishi, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2019: Gedanken – Leng Bingchuan, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2019: Bukowina – Klöster leben – Oliver Mark, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2019: Goldene Schuhe – Fotografien aus der Sammlung des Liechtensteinischen Landesmuseums von Oliver Mark, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2019/20: 1719 – 300 Jahre Fürstentum Liechtenstein, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2019: 50 Jahre Mondlandung, Postal Museum, Vaduz
2019: Diese Katze ist die Sonne selbst – Am Anfang gegenseitiger Begegnung, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2019/20: Die Farben von Mexiko – Briefmarken erzählen die Geschichte Mexikos, Postal Museum, Vaduz
2020: Literatur, Literati, Literati-Malerei: Kunst von Chen Lyusheng, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2020: Tuschmalereien – Zhang Ding, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2020: Faust in Edelstein – Die grössten Kameen der Welt präsentieren Goethes Faust, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2020/21: Astrophilatelie – Bemannte Raumstationen, Postal Museum, Vaduz
2020/21: Nibelungenlied – Genia Chef, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2021: Märchen, Sagen und Symbole, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2021/22: Stimmen aus der Arktis, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2021/22: Pompeji – Pracht und Tod unter dem Vulkan, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2022: Haarblüten und Kunstblumen – Erinnerungsbilder an Lebensstationen, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2022: Chinesische Bambusschnitzkunst aus dem Shanghai Museum, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2022: 5000 Jahre Esskultur in China – Schätze aus dem Chinesischen Nationalmuseum, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2022: Spectrum – Rashid Al Khalifa, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2022: Kopfschmuck, Tracht und Identität – Europa, Asien, Afrika, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz)
2022: Cusp – Rashid Al Khalifa, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2022/23: Wappenbriefe für Europa, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2023: Kauernder Tiger, verborgener Drache – Der Charme von chinesischer Kalligraphie, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz
2023: Ion Irimescu, Ion Mândrescu – Geheimnis und Erfüllung in der rumänischen Skulptur'', Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz

Publications

Rainer Vollkommer authored six books, edited over 60 books/catalogs/encyclopedias, wrote around 50 major articles in academic journals, and contributed more than 2,000 entries to various encyclopedias. He served as a scientific advisor for Brockhaus Archaeology, Geo Theme Encyclopedia of Archaeology, ADAC's Book of Millions of Years, and World History in 20 Volumes.

Monographs

Herakles in the Art of Classical Greece. Oxford University School of Archaeology, Oxford 1989, .Unteritalische Vasen. Leipziger Universitätsverlag, Leipzig 1995, .Sternstunden der Archäologie. C. H. Beck, München 2000,.Neue Sternstunden der Archäologie. C. H. Beck, München 2006,.Das antike Griechenland. Theiss, Stuttgart 2007,.Das römische Weltreich. Theiss, Stuttgart 2008,.

Editorialships

Französische Archäologie heute. Einblicke in Ausgrabungen. Leipziger Universitätsverlag, Leipzig 1997, .Künstlerlexikon der Antike. 2 volumes, K. G. Saur, Leipzig/München 2001–2004,.

* Vol. 1: A – K, 2001,.
* Vol. 2: L – Z, 2004,.
** § Reprint in one volume: Künstlerlexikon der Antike. Over 3800 artists of three millennia. Nikol, Hamburg 2007,.
with Donat Büchel: 1712 – Das Werden eines Landes. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2012.Im Dienst des Friedens: überwindet das Böse mit Gutem; Haakon Nederland’s Eindrücke nach der Rheinkatastrophe von 1927. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2013,.Oliver Marks Blick auf Liechtensteins Staatsfeiertag. Fotografien: Oliver Mark, Alpenland-Verlag, Schaan 2013,.Anschluss oder weiterhin souverän? Liechtenstein 1938. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2013,.Geopythafibotonpolyhypotesaeder! Matheliebe. Alpenland-Verlag Schaan, Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2013,.Gladiatoren und Kolosseum. Helden und Architektur im Dienst der Mächtigen. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2014,.
with Max Kunze: Ostereier zwischen Kult und Kunst. Verlag Rutzen and Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2014, und .Die Spuren Roms in der Provinz. Archäologische Funde aus Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein 1938. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2014,.
with Max Kunze: Gab es den Heiligen Nikolaus wirklich? Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2014,.
with Max Kunze: Heiliger Nikolaus – Leben und Wirkung des Nikolaos von Myra. Verlag Rutzen und Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2014, und und .
with Yang Zhigan and Shi Yuan: Chinesische Bambusschnitzkunst aus dem Shanghai Museum. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2019,.Glanz im Fluss der Zeit. Ländlicher Schmuck und Tracht im Lebenslauf. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2020,.Nibelungenlied – Genia Chef. Verlag Ciconia und Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2020, and .Liechtensteinische Sagen. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2020,.Tribute to Ibrahim Kodra. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2020,.
with Peter Echtermeyer: Zurück ins Leben – Bilder aus der Haft. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2021,.Märchen, Sagen und Symbole. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2021,.Pompeji – Pracht und Tod unter dem Vulkan. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2021,.Stimmen aus der Arktis. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2021,.Wappenbriefe für Europa. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2022,.
with Wang Chunfa: 5000 Jahre Esskultur in China. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2022,.
with Max Kunze: Haarblüten und Kunstblumen – Erinnerungsbilder an Lebensstationen. Michael Imhof Verlag und Verlag Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2022,.Kopfschmuck, Tracht und Identität – Europa, Asien, Afrika. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2022,.Spectrum – Rashid Al Khalifa. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2022,.
with Constantin-Emil Ursu: Ion Irimescu Ion Mândrescu, Geheimnis und Erfüllung in der rumänischen Bildhauerei. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2023,.50 Shapes of Prey. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2023,.Kauernder Tiger, verborgener Drache. Der Charm chinesischer Kalligraphie. Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz 2023,.