Through a multi-perspective showcase of artistic voices, the 2027 exhibition programme combines local cultural history with international perspectives on socialism and contemporary issues. “The diversity and, at the same time, the scholarly depth characterise the content of MINSK,” says Anna Schneider, director of the Kunsthaus in Potsdam, looking ahead to the coming year.
Image above: Mario Pfeifer, production still from State of the Nation. Credits: Mario Pfeifer Studio.
“Furthermore, DAS MINSK will be providing important conceptual impetus in the field of arts education next year: the expansion of our premises through DAS MINSK LAB and the artist-in-residence programme opens up scope for new educational formats and sharpens MINSK’s profile as a place where art, research and participation come together. This further development coincides with our fifth anniversary. We are looking back on the history of the institution whilst also asking what role DAS MINSK should play in future for art and for engaging with the cultural history of the GDR,” explains Anna Schneider.
MARIO PFEIFER. ZUSTAND DER NATION | 06.03.–08.08.2027
With State of the Nation, the artist Mario Pfeifer (1981, Dresden) attempts to create an evolving social psychogram of Germany that captures political attitudes, social experiences and individual moods in equal measure. In collaboration with an agency specialising in electoral and opinion research, Pfeifer surveys eligible voters in Germany on the political, social and emotional state of the country. With the aid of an artificial intelligence system specially programmed for this purpose and running on a local computer, the interviews are synthesised with current global news feeds. The result is a (multi-channel) installation that interweaves individual experiences with social dynamics. This creates a space for reflection that brings to light current moods, areas of conflict and connecting threads, whilst simultaneously opening up possible future scenarios for discussion.
The exhibition is curated by Marie Gerbaulet and Anna Schneider.
State of the Nation is produced by DAS MINSK Kunsthaus in Potsdam and the Albertinum, Dresden State Art Collections.
The exhibition at the Albertinum, Dresden, is curated by Hilke Wagner and supported by the ‘Art & AI’ programme of the Federal Cultural Foundation and by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.
IN SEARCH OF A NEW LANGUAGE | 6 March–8 August 2027
The exhibition In Search of a New Language offers an insight into the cultural relations between the GDR and the Arab countries. A key source for the exhibition is the journal al-Majallah [Eng. the magazine]. Published between 1959 and 1990 by the Dresden-based publisher Zeit im Bild, it was the only journal in the GDR to be published in Arabic and was distributed throughout South-West Asia and North Africa.
In its search for a new language, the exhibition documents the art histories contained in al-Majallah and situates them within the broader context of artistic exchange between the GDR and the Arab countries. This includes study visits, exhibition activities and personal connections, which existed within a tension between individual experience and state-mandated expressions of solidarity.
Featuring works by Daoud Salman Anad, Inji Efflatoun, Hamed Ewais, Wieland Förster, Lea Grundig, Peter Herrmann, Mohammed Khadda, Sigrid Noack, Jewad Selim, Naziha Selim and others.
The exhibition is curated by Hala Ghoname and Daniel Milnes.
SOSA JOSEPH | 04.09.2027–06.02.2028
In autumn 2027, DAS MINSK will present the first institutional solo exhibition by the Indian painter Sosa Joseph (b. 1971, lives and works in London). In her dreamlike, figurative paintings, Joseph combines a compelling narrative style with a keen sense of colour. In recent years, she has repeatedly drawn on stories from her family – often passed down to her by her father – which, on canvas, become poetic testimonies to her home region of Kerala.
The focus is on the life stories of women and girls, set against the unique natural landscape of Kerala – a region characterised by a complex network of rivers and a diverse flora and fauna. At the same time, Joseph’s intimate scenes allude to broader global contexts: to the transnational history of socialism as well as to Kerala’s colonial legacy, both of which continue to shape the region to this day.
The exhibition is curated by Daniel Milnes and Anna Schneider.
ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION: 50/5 | 4 September 2027–6 February 2028
DAS MINSK is celebrating its birthday! To mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the ‘Minsk’ terrace restaurant and the 5th anniversary of the MINSK Kunsthaus in Potsdam, the exhibition 50/5 will be on display in the Kabinettraum in autumn 2027. Historical artefacts recount the story(ies) of the building, from the restaurant’s opening in 1977 to its reopening as an art centre in 2022. Yet the building’s history does not end with a look back: contemporary artistic, academic and social perspectives transform the exhibition into a living archive and build a bridge to the here and now. We invite you to reflect further on the history of a building that has always been a place of encounter.
The exhibition is curated by Luisa Bachmann.
DAS MINSK LAB | From spring 2027
In spring 2027, DAS MINSK LAB will open as a physical extension of the museum’s activities. DAS MINSK LAB sees itself as a space for creativity, interdisciplinary research and collaborative learning. It is a place where diverse people and perspectives come together to explore the links between art and social issues. The premises house a public reference library, a studio kitchen and a workshop and events area for the museum’s accompanying programmes.
DAS MINSK LAB was designed by Some Place Studio and, from spring 2027, will provide space for workshops, communal cooking and dining, reading and research, as well as for discussion forums, symposia and local collaborations.
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAMME 2027
Next year, DAS MINSK will launch a new international residency programme, offering two residencies for artists each year. In doing so, DAS MINSK reaffirms its commitment to artistic, academic and interdisciplinary research and practice, as well as its role as a host venue for reflection, networking, innovation and community.
As part of the Culinary Residency, a fellow will be invited to carry out a project that approaches cooking as a cultural and artistic practice, thereby opening up new perspectives on art, ecological cycles and social issues. Through the ZEITEN Residency, the museum invites artists, authors, academics, art historians and interdisciplinary researchers to engage with the history of the building, its collection and the various contemporary historical facets of the site.
WHERE?
DAS MINSK Kunsthaus in Potsdam
Max-Planck-Straße 17
14473 Potsdam
