​03.05.2025

Exhibition Tip: 4 Museums – 1 Modernism

by Eyes & Ears of Europe

One exhibition – four perspectives. To mark the 100th anniversary of Die Neue Sammlung, the four museums under the roof of the Pinakothek der Moderne unite in a joint show. Under the title “4 Museums – 1 Modernism”, they present key works from a turbulent era filled with experiments, tensions, and hope.

This is more than a retrospective – it’s an invitation to experience modernism as a multi-voiced dialogue between disciplines. Divided into four themes – New Aesthetics, New Materials and Techniques, New Institutions, and New Society – the exhibition unfolds a panorama of artistic and design visions. From abstract painting and functional furniture to socially engaged architecture, it reflects a deep belief in a new beginning.

A highlight: Marcel Breuer’s cantilever chair stands as a symbol of the era’s movement and lightness – just like Rudolf Belling’s sculpture Dreiklang, which greets visitors with its abstract dance motif and nod to the interplay of the arts. Works by August Sander, A. M. Cassandre, and Peter Birkenholz reveal social shifts and technical innovation across disciplines.

What makes this exhibition special is the collaboration across collections. For the first time, art, design, architecture, and graphic art enter into a shared, open dialogue – just as the museum’s founders once envisioned. The result is a journey through a century of modernist spirit – and a call for interconnected thinking in the present.

“4 Museums – 1 Modernism” ? Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich ? April 4 – September 28, 2025 https://www.pinakothek-der-moderne.de/ausstellungen/4museen-1moderne/