From June 19, 2015 till April 17, 2016, the ZKM offers exhibitions and events on central twenty-first century themes: globalization and digitalization. The new art format thematizes their effects and shows the decisive tendencies of the twenty-first century by way of the most recent art productions that go beyond the art market.

Globalisation and digitalisation are continually changing the world in an ever-increasing way. They are the most important prerequisites for our present and our future. The new art format, the GLOBALE – An Art Event – which begins with the 300-year anniversary of the city of Karlsruhe in June 2015 and will run for 300 days until mid-April 2016, will broach the cultural effects of globalisation and digitalisation.

Polyphonic, multipolar manifestations such as exhibitions, concerts, performances, lectures, conferences and symposiums show the decisive trends of the 21st century.
For a long time, art, philosophy and religion were considered the dominating but rival systems of world explanation. But in the modern era, natural science, technology and politics have been added as reference systems. They don’t just interpret the world. They have also created a new tool culture, with which they change the world.

The new polyphonic, multipolar art form, the GLOBALE, laboratory and academy at the same time, will begin with the 300th anniversary of the city of Karlsruhe in June 2015 and then continue for 300 days. It focuses on the cultural effects of globalization and digitalization, which both influence life on our planet. Exhibitions, concerts, performances, lectures, conferences and symposia show the crucial artistic, social and scientific trends of the 21st Century for the first time.

It is not about a new geopolitical cartography of culture, but the variety and richness of contemporary art beyond the market and the connection with technology and science. This art is performative and action-oriented and replaces representation by reality. In the mirror of globalization new tradition lines come into view, for example an extended Renaissance term to Asian and Arabic contributions. Globalization and digitalization cause a global synchronization of events, but also new forms of asynchrony, a “confluence of cultures” (Peter Weibel) and a “clash of civilizations” (Samuel Huntington).

Opening Weekend

Fr–So, 19.–21.06.
Tribunal The GLOBALE begins with an event of three days: a trial against the misconduct of the 20th century and its crimes against mankind, animals and nature.

Sa, 20.06.;
19:30 Uhr
Opening Ceremony »Schlosslichtspiele«
​With the Schlosslichtspiele, the GLOBALE will be officially opened as part of the opening ceremony of the city of Karlsruhe’s »300 Years Karlsruhe«.

So, 21.06.;
11:00 Uhr
Opening of the Exhibitions
​As prelude of the exhibions »Infosphere« (from Sept 2015) and »Exo-Evolution« (from Oct 2015), the exhibitions »Ryoji Ikeda. micro | macro« and »Transsolar + Tetsuo Kondo. Cloudscapes« will be officially opened on Sunday, June 21 at 2 pm. You can visit the exhibitions already from 11 am – admission on this day is free!

Image: Transsolar + Tetsuo Kondo, Cloudscapes, Installation, 2015. Courtesy ZKM Karlsruhe/Globale.