Fries, pool, and contemporary art: Since 2017, TROPEZ has been bringing art into the public swimming pool. This summer, the Berlin-based platform for emerging and international art celebrates its 10th Art & Culture Summer, once again transforming the grounds of Sommerbad Humboldthain into a sculpture park and a site for artistic experimentation and social exchange from June through September 2026.
Image above: TROPEZ – im Sommerbad Humboldthain, photo: Ink Agop
For the anniversary program PRÉSENT (French for both “gift” and “present”), TROPEZ invites thirteen artists of the post-1990 generation to share their perspectives on the present moment. The invited artists are at the beginning of their careers, have already received awards or founded their own initiatives, and in some cases are being presented in Berlin or Germany for the first time. In their work, they engage with themes such as institutional violence, data swamps, and girl rage.
Their works take as a starting point and inspiration personal highlights from TROPEZ’s exhibition history—projects by artists who have exhibited there in recent years, including Natalie Czech (2019), Adam Harvey (2018), Sung Tieu (2020), Søren Aagaard (2021), and Monster Chetwynd (2018).
In 2026, in addition to the artworks installed throughout the pool grounds and created specifically for the exhibition, performances and interactions will once again take place amid the regular swimming activities. Performing artists celebrate the moment and community through works such as a picnic performance or a clown act, engaging directly with pool visitors.
Alongside the group exhibition and performances, PRÉSENT includes three event series featuring readings, concerts, and performances that present additional emerging writers, theorists, and dancers of today, as well as art workshops led by participating artists for children from the surrounding neighborhood.
PRÉSENT sees itself as a dialogue between the past and the present. The anniversary programme aims to refresh the collective memory of the swimming pool, cast aside familiar perspectives and introduce exciting new approaches. PRÉSENT is intended as a gift to the outdoor pool’s visitors and to Berlin. A special highlight: for the first time, in the summer of 2026, a children’s jury will decide on TROPEZ’s artistic programme for the coming decade.
With works and contributions by Selin Acarbaş, François Briand, Ileana Farabani, Olga Hohmann, Anna-Lena Krause, Neda Naujokaitė, Thuy Tien Nguyen, Malin Kuht, Belle Santos, Virginie Sistek, Alex Tatarsky, Nomin Zezegmaa, and others.
PRÉSENT marks TROPEZ’s 10th Summer of Art and Culture. The artistic director is Nada Hussein, and the producer is Sofia Duchovny. The event was founded by Nele Heinevetter. The anniversary programme is made possible by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion.
WHEN?
Exhibition dates: Saturday, 6. June until Sunday, 13. September 2026
WHERE?
Sommerbad Humboldthain
Wiesenstraße 1
13357 Berlin
