The NRW-Forum will reopen on 5 July 2026
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Takumi Ogata What is kawaii 2022 A1 Digitale Malerei
ASIA POP
17 September 2026 – 23 May 2027
Comics, films, food and much more – East Asian pop culture has a decisive influence on global mainstream culture. With ASIA POP, the NRW-Forum presents the first comprehensive exhibition in Germany dedicated to this development and its cultural, political, economic and aesthetic influences. From kawaii characters such as Hello Kitty to animated films by Studio Ghibli, K-pop bands such as BTS and games such as Black Myth Wukong, ASIA POP brings the diversity of East Asian popular culture to life. In Düsseldorf, the city with the largest East Asian population in Germany, the NRW-Forum is creating a visual, auditory and culinary panorama of East Asian pop culture on 1,200 square metres and with around 400 works.
The presentation focuses on China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. They all use popular culture in different ways as so-called soft power. The export of cultural products opens up economic and political influence on an international level. The show highlights these strategies and asks how authenticity, identity and appropriation are negotiated in this context. The exhibition is thematically structured according to the different areas of life such as beauty, fashion, film and television, games and music, in which the characteristics of Asian pop are evident.
Bart Koning, Zebrafohlen, 2022, Öl auf Leinwand, 120 x 100 cm, Copyright: Bart Koning
DIE GROSSE 2026
5 July – 9 August 2026
DIE GROSSE is Germany's oldest and largest sales exhibition organised entirely by artists. Organised by the VzVvK e.V., it is traditionally held at the Kunstpalast and also at the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf.
It is an important platform for promoting and selling contemporary art in the region. Every summer, works of art from all disciplines are presented in four halls and in the outdoor area. Approximately 180 artists, selected by a rotating jury of experts, participate in the exhibition. To this day, DIE GROSSE remains a reliable reflection of developments in art and is considered a meeting place for professionals in the industry.
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