Exhibitions, festivals and biennials to see this summer

Bad Databrunn: An Exhibition on Bladders, Rainbows, and Less Screen Time‘ curated by Jules van den Langenberg, Willem Schenk, Katharina Wahl for ORNAMENTA 2024 Ph. Sander van Wettum, courtesy of Ornamenta.
 

Ornamenta 2024
In the northern Black Forest, Germany, a five-year art and design exhibition, Ornamenta, is held from July to September. The first edition dates back to 1989 and today returns in the form of a platform for contemporary cultural development through site-specific exhibitions, public installations, events and much more. The event is widespread and takes place between the towns of Pforzheim, Calw, Bad-Wildbad, Nagold, and Maulbronn. The concept envisages that during the months of Ornamenta, existing neighborhoods will be temporarily replaced by five thematic neighborhoods - which in German are called "Gemeinden" and which are entitled Schmutzige Ecke, Zum Eros, lnhalatorium, Bad Databrunn, and Solartal - which each investigate themes specific, from sunshine to access to clean air, from social taboos to technology. Then there is a parallel program entitled Ornamenta Lust which is a sort of inclusive call towards all the territorial realities that the event touches, from spas to bakeries, up to historical or emerging cultural initiatives.

Where: Germany
When: until September
www.ornamenta2024.eu



Arnold Holzknecht, Schwarzweiß Bianconero
 

Gherdëina Biennial
Biennale Gherdëina is a contemporary art event in Val Gardena, in the heart of the Dolomites, which is held from May to September and is inspired by legends, stories, traditions, nature and languages ​​of Ladinia. Born as a parallel event to MANIFESTA 7 in 2008, it has expanded edition after edition, embracing neighboring countries and evolving into an ambitious international project. The title of this edition is The Parliament of the Marmots, curated by Lorenzo Giusti and with the participation of over 25 great international contemporary artists, and is dedicated to nature, ecology and dialogue with all living forms. With the ticket you can visit five exhibition rooms, while the guided tours of Pontives and Ortisei are separate. Finally, in addition to the widespread installations, there is a cycle of screenings of artists' films, organized in collaboration with the Science Museum of Trento, which investigate the wild, the complexities of the Anthropocene and the ecological crises of our time.

Where: Ortisei
When: until September 1st.
www.biennalegherdeina.it




ph. Mustafa Hazneci
 

Notes on Air
2050+ - the multidisciplinary agency that operates between architecture, design, technology, environment and politics - signs an immersive installation that tries to "give materiality" to the toxicity of the air, exploring a mix of material, acoustic and visual experiments. Commissioned by the Salt Beyoğlu institution in Istanbul, the project focuses on the air element and its interaction with the human being through an aesthetic exploration and sensorial pretexts that make the chemical compositions of the air tactile, make the chemical reactions audible and they make the gaseous substances that envelop the Earth visible.

Where: Salt Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Türkiye
When: until August 18th
www.saltonline.org




“Pino Pascali”, Fondazione Prada, Milano, Ph. Roberto Marossi, Courtesy Fondazione Prada
 

Pino Pascali
Fondazione Prada presents a large retrospective dedicated to the Italian artist Pino Pascali, exploring the innovative nature of his work, especially in relation to his sculptural production. Curated by Mark Godfrey, the exhibition is divided into four sections with an exhibition itinerary, conceived by 2×4, which includes forty-nine works by Pino Pascali from Italian and international museums and prestigious private collections, together with nine works by artists of the post-war period and a selection of photographs and a video portraying the artist with his works.

Where: Prada Foundation, Milan
When: until September 23rd
www.fondazioneprada.org




 

Muller Van Severen
The Fondation CAB presents an exhibition by Muller Van Severen, a Belgian designer duo known for their furnishing objects with a distinctly sculptural soul. For this exhibition, Muller Van Severen not only presents a selection of his own work from the last 12 years, but also adds an extra dimension to the experience by zooming in and out on objects such as prototypes, drawings, materials, etc. The result is a unique look at the work and methods of one of the design studios that most characterize contemporary European production.

Where: Fondation CAB, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France
When: until October 27th
www.fondationcab.com




 

Transform! Designing the Future of Energy
At the Vitra Design Museum this summer's temporary exhibition highlights the transformations of the energy sector from a design perspective, from everyday products that use renewable energy to the design of solar homes and wind farms; from intelligent mobility systems to futuristic visions of self-sufficient cities.
Just as dependence on fossil fuels has affected even the smallest details of our daily lives, the progressive shift to renewable energy sources will have just as much effect on our future. This is where design comes in, mediating between scientific research and users. The exhibition includes examples of innovative and experimental products, speculative design projects, films, architectural archetypes and visionary concepts for the future. The exhibition consists of four sections: Human Power, Energy Tools, Transformers and Future Energyscapes.

Where: Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein, Germany
When: until September 1st
www.design-museum.de



Barbie: The Exhibition 2024 © Jo Underhill for the Design Museum
 

Barbie®: The Exhibition
The exhibition explores the history of Barbie through the lens of design, including fashion, architecture, furniture and vehicle design. Highlight of the visit is a rare first edition of the very first doll released by Mattel in 1959 ("Number 1 Barbie"), followed by the groundbreaking Day to Night Barbie of 1985 and the best-selling Barbie of all time, Totally Hair Barbie of 1992 which has sold over 10 million worldwide. As well as countless other dolls that highlight the diversity of the Barbie range and the ways in which it has reflected changes in society, other items such as houses, vehicles and furniture are on display, including the first Barbie Dreamhouse™ from 1962.

Where: Design Museum, London, UK
When: until February 23, 2025
www.designmuseum.org