CABINET 05/25: EXPRESSIONISM AND NEW OBJECTIVITY THEN AND NOW
CURATED BY MARCUS GRAF
November 28, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Istanbul

Max Beckmann, Ayşe Bezenmiş, Ramazan Can, Antonio Cosentino, Otto Dix, Ali Elmacı, Erol Eskici, Conrad Felixmüller, İnci Furni, Walter Gramatte, George Grosz, Mehmet Güleryüz, Heinrich Hoerle, Hannah Höch, Esra Karaduman, Kemal Köse, Ewald Mataré, Merve Morkoç, Ardan Özmenoğlu & Gökhan Tüfekçi, Otto Pankok, Christian Rohlfs, Erinç Seymen

“Cabinet 05/25: Expressionism and New Objectivity Then and Now” opens a dialogue between past and present, collective history and individual memory, and invites viewers to explore vibrant and critical artistic perspectives.

“Cabinet 05/25” brings together drawings, prints and works on paper by early 20th-century artists who worked in Germany, such as Conrad Felixmüller, Max Beckmann, Otto Dix, and George Grosz, alongside current works by contemporary Turkish artists. The exhibition situates the emotionally charged attitude of Expressionism and the sharp social critique of New Objectivity within a shared context. These two styles stand out as powerful movements whose historical impact has endured due to their responses to the crises of their time.

Inspired by the 1920 silent film classic “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”, the exhibition design creates an immersive atmosphere through colourfully designed walls and distorted patterns. Juxtaposing historical and contemporary works illustrates how artistic strategies of expression and critique continue to reflect social, political, and cultural realities today. “Cabinet 05/25” invites visitors to experience the ongoing relevance of Expressionism and New Objectivity, and to experience the resonances of artistic debates around identity, politics, and representation.

The exhibition can be seen at Anna Laudel Istanbul between 28 November 2025 – 11 January 2026.