Stepping into the uncanny world of Franz Kafka

Imagine donning a pair of VR goggles and being transported into the uncanny world of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis—waking up in the body of travelling salesman Gregor Samsa. The first thing you notice is the sound: a low, skittering scrape that shouldn't be yours. You open your eyes, and the ceiling looms farther away than it should, the walls warped and unfamiliar. Outside, rain lashes the windows, lightning flickering like a warning. Then you glance down at your arms—or rather, limbs—twitching like a creature's sharp claws. Panic rises; your limbs scrape and thump, and the noise they make–that awful clatter is louder than your heartbeat.

Moments later, the screen fades to black. You remove the headset and find yourself standing on a stage at the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh in Dhanmondi. The immersive virtual reality installation, part of the "Celebrating Kafka" exhibition, invites visitors to experience the disorientation and alienation at the heart of Kafka's work. By placing participants directly in Gregor's fragmented perspective, the project transforms one of literature's most haunting transformations into a visceral, first-hand encounter.

Beyond the VR experience, the exhibition features a collection of minimalist illustrations, "The Complete Kafka", by Austrian artist Nicolas Mahler. His stark, witty drawings reinterpret Kafka's complex world with a touch of humour and existential melancholy, bridging literature and visual storytelling. The eclectic mix of captions beneath each illustration—some drawn directly from Kafka's journals and letters, others inspired by his fiction—adds another dimension to the exhibition, connecting the artwork to Kafka's own stream of thought. The venue also houses the Kafka Café– a quiet space for reflection and conversation, where visitors can browse selected readings, sip coffee, and engage with fellow Kafka enthusiasts.

The event will run from October 25 to November 25, 2025, featuring VR Wandlung: 'A Metamorphosis Experience' that took place on October 25. Meanwhile, The Complete Kafka comic exhibition by Nicolas Mahler will be on display spanning the entire period of the event from 11 AM to 5 PM, Saturday to Thursday at the Gallery of Goethe Institut, showcasing a visual interpretation of Kafka's works.

Through its blend of art, technology, and literature, "Celebrating Kafka" offers more than a homage—it invites audiences to confront the absurdities of modern life and recognise that Kafka's strange, unsettling world is still unmistakably our own.

Sara Kabir is a dreamer, a literature major, and a writer. She is often found juggling academics and her countless hobbies. Help her figure out what to write about next @scarletfangirl on Instagram.