From 28 February to 26 October 2025, Hamburg will be glittering in a very special way: Because with ‘Glitter’, the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe (MK&G) is showing the world's first exhibition dedicated to this theme. The museum on Steintorplatz, one of Europe's leading design museums, is celebrating the joy of the material, which symbolises the attitude to life of a diverse society and a symbol of belonging and welcome. Visitors can explore the topic through around 40 international art and design positions and also get active themselves in the D.I.Y. space.
Omnipresent and more than just a sparkling decoration
It sparkles, fascinates, is omnipresent - and can also outrage: The material glitter. It can be found on stages as on protest posters and in children's and teenagers' bedrooms. The organisers of the world's first exhibition of its kind focus on glitter as a symbol of belonging, empowerment and self-determination and highlights its use in political contexts and collective movements.
The glitter facets
Six chapters reveal the many glittering facets of the exhibition: The Hall of Glitter presents around 100 private favourite objects such as stickers, mobile phone covers, nail polish, Christmas decorations and dance shoes, which were collected during the Open Call at the beginning of 2024. The Glitter up! space focuses on glitter in protests and the examination of body ideals, role expectations and the visibility of marginalised groups. Costumes, wigs, nail art and video works are shown in the Sparkle and Shine area. On display are show wigs by Hamburg designers Karl Gadzali and Mohamad Barakat-Götz for Olivia Jones and a stage outfit by Tokio Hotel lead singer Bill Kaulitz. The focus here is on the staging of identity and collectivity.
It's hard to imagine children's and teenagers' bedrooms without glitter: Teenage Glitter looks at glittery moments from film and television history as well as contemporary internet culture. The Hamburg-based artist and photographer Jenny Schäfer has created a glittering teenage room. Glitter Craft is all about DIY: International D.I.Y. artists demonstrate a playful approach to glitter. Visitors can also become active themselves in the middle of the exhibition and take part in workshops. Glittermania uses a timeline to tell the story of glitter - from Cleopatra to Taylor Swift.
From 5 June 2025: Immersive installation ‘Puff Out“
In June 2025, almost twenty robotic hoovers will be moving into two showrooms. The Turkish-Belgian duo duo :mentalKLINK modifies them so that they can both suck in and spit out the glitter that has been distributed. This creates a constantly changing ‘painting’ on the glittering pink floor.
Framework programme
For glitter fans and those who (want to) become one, the MK&G has a wide-ranging programme to accompany the ‘Glitter’ exhibition. The programme takes place both in the exhibition rooms themselves and in the
MK&G and at various locations in Hamburg. The formats are all about the fascination and enjoyment and enjoyment of the material and the exchange between different groups and communities. Among other things, there will be drag guided tours, film series, glitter tours on various aspects such as urban society and community. The MK&G cooperates with the Hamburg Short Film Festival, Queer History Month and Hamburg Pride e. V.. The D.I.Y. room in the exhibition will host a varied series of workshops.
