Glitter

Glitter is exciting and enchanting. It can also be annoying and provocative. Glitter is used in pop culture, politics and subculture as a stylistic tool and form of expression, as well as a means of self-representation. In view of environmental protection and nature conservation, glitter is also sparking controversial debate.

A large-scale exhibition by the Hamburg Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe will now examine the social significance of glitter. The show features works by contemporary artists and designers in combination with objects from consumer, pop and protest culture. The exhibition takes glitter as the starting point for discussing what characterises “good taste” and investigating why the material is often regarded as “kitschy”, “gaudy” or “girly”.

Public involvement and co-creation play a key role in the project. An open call for pro-posals will invite the public to submit, comment and categorise their own works and ob-jects for the exhibition. In workshops and other accompanying events, visitors will be allowed to design objects themselves. Such outreach measures will serve to initiate en-counters and exchange and increase familiarity with the subject matter from multiple perspectives.

Artistic direction / curators: Nina Lucia Groß, Julia Meer
Participants: Hannah Altman, T. L. Cowan, Sarah Drath, Karl Gadzali and Mohamad Barakat, :mentalKLINIK, Sam Reece, Jenny Schäfer, Sara Shakeel, Molly Soda, Pansy St. Batty and others

Exhibition: Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg: 28 Feb. – 12 Oct. 2025