Petrit Halilaj presents his first major institutional solo exhibition in Berlin at the Hamburger Bahnhof – National Gallery of Contemporary Art. The focus is on the artist’s first opera, Syrigana, which explores the possibilities of collective dreaming to create open and emancipatory worlds. In addition to this new, site-specific work, the exhibition features sculptures, installations and video works from various creative phases. It is the second exhibition in the Rieckhallen, which reopened in 2024, and takes place during Berlin Art Week.
Image above: Petrit Halilaj, Yes but the sea is attached to the earth and it never floats around in space. The stars would turn off and what about my planet?, 2014. Earth, branches, fallen leaves, stones, soap, mild steel, chickenwire, clay, wool. Installed dimensions variable. Image courtesy the artist and Mennour, Paris. Photo by Fabrice Seixas.
For his exhibition at Hamburger Bahnhof – National Gallery of Contemporary Art, Petrit Halilaj is developing an opera in collaboration with the Kosovo Philharmonic Orchestra. Founded in 2000 after the end of the Kosovo War, it is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The opera is set in the legendary village of Syrigana, a three-thousand-year-old village near Halilaj’s hometown of Runik. Since 2016, Syrigana has been a protected archaeological site of early history, late antiquity and the Middle Ages. The opera, whose plot was developed with Amy Zion and Doruntina Basha, is based on a score by Lugh O’Neill, with vocal compositions by Nina Guo and choreography by Robert Schulz. Its world premiere will take place on 29 June 2025 in Syrigana. As part of the exhibition at the Hamburger Bahnhof, the elements of the opera will be reconfigured in a site-specific installation.
In addition, the exhibition features four large-scale installations from different phases of the artist’s career, providing insight into his work. Berlin-based artist Petrit Halilaj (born 1986) creates complex worlds that offer space for freedom, longing, intimacy and identity. His art is closely linked to the history of his homeland Kosovo and the consequences of cultural and political tensions in the region. His works have been exhibited internationally, including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Venice Biennale and Tate St Ives.
An edition of the Hamburger Bahnhof catalogue series, published by Silvana Editoriale Milano, accompanies the exhibition.
The exhibition is curated by Catherine Nichols, curator at Hamburger Bahnhof – National Gallery of Contemporary Art. Curatorial assistance: Emily Finkelstein, Hamburger Bahnhof – National Gallery of Contemporary Art.
Education and outreach Claudia Ehgartner with assistance from Sonja Azizaj, Hamburger Bahnhof – National Gallery of Contemporary Art.
The exhibition is supported by the Direzione Generale Creativita Contemporanea (Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity) of the Italian Ministry of Culture as part of the Italian Council (2025).
The exhibition is supported by Hamburger Bahnhof International Companions e.V.
WHEN?
Opening: Wednesday, 10 September 2025, 7 p.m.
Exhibition dates: Thursday, 11 September 2025 – Sunday, 31 May 2026
Opening hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
WHERE?
Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart
Invalidenstraße 50
10557 Berlin
