Ayoung Kim, Opera & EMOP: This Week in Berlin

Agenda Edition #28 / 27.02-02.03.2025 / Current mood: Enjoy a bit of culture

Hi, and welcome back to agenda – got plans?, a newsletter featuring a curated selection of art, design, and fashion events in Berlin. I’m Kate, a freelance journalist, Berlin local, and art lover. I hope this newsletter makes it a bit easier for you to navigate everything this city has to offer.

That said: After last week’s election and with everything happening in the world right now, it’s absolutely fine to feel tired. But earlier today, I stumbled across a quote that felt fitting for this little newsletter:

“Before the whole fucking world goes up in flames, enjoy a bit of culture.”

It’s from none other than UK indie artist Pete Doherty (who I mostly remember as Kate Moss’s ex-boyfriend — and for the rumor that he fed his kittens coke).

Without further ado, here are my picks for the weekend:

#1 EMOP BERLIN – European Month of Photography

f you are not living under a rock, chances are high that you have already seen advertising for EMOP in Berlin: Germany’s largest biennial photo festival kicks off its 11th edition today. If you have no plans for tonight, stop by the EMOP opening at Akademie der Künste.

Otherwise, check out the EMOP event calendar (Abre numa nova janela) for all exhibitions, artist talks, and guided tours taking place over the next few weeks. If you’re a photography lover, this is the best time to be in Berlin: There are countless free events happening all around the city.

I’m especially interested in Passing Distances, a group exhibition featuring twenty-three photographers from Herspective Photographers (Abre numa nova janela), opening on Saturday at Crank in Neukölln.

EMOP Berlin
Opening Days at Akademie der Künste: 27.02 – 02.03.2025
EMOP festival happening throughout the city: 01.-31.03.2025
More info (Abre numa nova janela)

#2 Ayoung Kim Many Worlds Over
at Hamburger Bahnhof

Ghost Dancers A, 2022 © Courtesy Ayoung Kim & Gallery Hyundai / Nationalgalerie – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Foto: Jacopo LaForgia

Korean artist Ayoung Kim just won the $100,000 LG Guggenheim Award. Described as a “builder of vivid digital worlds”, she explores concepts of time, reality, belonging, and queerness. I had the pleasure of attending a press tour of Kim’s first solo exhibition in a German museum, Many Worlds Over, on Thursday at Hamburger Bahnhof.

Little side note: I’m always so so curious to see how artists dress — and she nailed it, wearing a silver necklace resembling her sculptures and a dark jumpsuit that was minimalistic, slightly workwear-inspired, yet effortlessly chic.

Even as the exhibition is rather small, bring some time if you go: Due to the gamification aspect of Ayoung Kim’s work, viewers become both spectators and first-person players, shaping the story from their perspective. I guess you need around 1,5 hour to explore the exhibition, which includes not only short films but also interactive video games you can play.

Ayoung Kim: Many Worlds Over
Opening: Thursday, 27.02.2025, 19:00
Location: Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart
Invalidenstr. 50/51, 10557 Berlin
More info (Abre numa nova janela)

#3 Showroom and Studio Opening

Compared to other cities that claim to be fashion hotspots, I find the shopping experience in Berlin quite lacking for the most part. I understand that we don’t have the same purchasing power as other cities, but often, I wish there were just a bit... more. More unique shops, more space for Berlin designers, more places you actually want to spend time in.

Luckily, thanks to the high demand for vintage fashion, things are starting to move — and there’s another promising vintage studio opening this weekend: Heart to Find Vintage will launch a studio in Kreuzberg, bringing together four collectives showcasing local design, upcycled fashion, curated vintage pieces, and more. Free drinks included, if that’s your vibe.

Heart to Find Vintage Showroom + studio opening
Location: Wiener Straße 60
10999 Berlin
12:00-20:00
More info (Abre numa nova janela)

#4 Have you been to the opera lately?

Okay, so this is obviously not a weekend pick, but have you? My mom visited me last weekend, and we saw Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata at Deutsche Oper (it’s one of her favorite operas, and I gifted her the tickets for Christmas).

I know it’s on the pricier side of things to do in the city, but I’m such a huge fan of Deutsche Oper: I really love the atmosphere, the chance to dress up, the architecture, and, of course, their staging. I’ve been there four or five times already, and it always brings me so much joy to be there. And not gonna lie, it’s probably one of the best places for people-watching — much better than Staatsoper, where people tend to be a bit stiffer, older, and, well, a little boring.

Anyway, if you’re under 30, definitely check out the Classic Card — it’s such a great deal. You pay your age once a year, and afterward, you can get opera and theater tickets for around €10–€15. Even if you’re not familiar with classical music, I think it’s a wonderful way to escape Berlin for a moment and immerse yourself in a completely different atmosphere.

If you’re not interested in classical music but still want to catch a glimpse of Deutsche Oper, here’s your chance: On Sunday, British video artist Ed Atkins will transform the opera’s foyer into a unique multimedia installation, blending opera costumes, sound, and video to create a richly layered narrative. Admission is free!

Open exhibition: Masses by Ed Atkins
Location: Deutsche Oper
Sunday, 02.01.2025, 11:00
Free admission / No ticket booking required

And that’s it for now! I hope you have a fantastic weekend.

P.S: Please subscribe to this newsletter (Abre numa nova janela)to have it delivered to your inbox every week. Feel free to write me at agenda.gotplans@gmail.com (Abre numa nova janela) if you want to share a recommendation, or have any feedback or suggestions. Your input means a lot to me.

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With love,

Kate from agenda - got plans?

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