NordArt 2025

The historic grounds of Carlshütte in Schleswig-Holstein, serve as a venue where international art narrates a shared story of our time. NordArt, one of Europe's largest contemporary art exhibitions, will take place this year from 6 June to 5 October.

Curated and redesigned annually, NordArt receives around 3,000 applications from artists worldwide each year. Once an iron foundry, Carlshütte has transformed into a melting pot of a different kind – one where diverse perspectives reveal that despite cultural differences, the hopes and dreams of East and West, North and South remain deeply connected. The art by the 200 selected artists embodies this spirit of dialogue and exchange, presenting unique perspectives on the world today.

Principal Curator of NordArt: Wolfgang Gramm
Senior Curator of NordArt: Inga Aru
Curator of NordArt: Taso Gramm

Selected Sculpture Network Members:

• Reiche, Willi – Germany
• Theurer, Andreas – Germany
• Fest, Rainer – Germany
• Plickat, Jörg – Germany

Sculpture Network Members as part of Permanent Exhibits:

• Diekmann, Dorsten – Deutschland
• Gramm, Wolfgang – Deutschland
• Lundberg, Peter – USA

"Art seeks answers to everything that moves and touches us, and in art, people can find answers. It reflects our fears but also symbolises our collective hope for a better tomorrow. Art inspires the soul and instils confidence in a language all people understand. We are honoured that NordArt has been able to foster this wonderful nonverbal conversation,” says the Principal Curator, Wolfgang Gramm.

Special features of NordArt 2025:

Focus Project JAPAN
Under the title “DO / d a t _ code", this exhibition brings into the spotlight Japanese culture, art and way of thinking, deliberately juxtaposing it with Western perspectives.
The project's curators, Ralph Tepel and Rainer Junghanns explain: “Rather than approaching the project from the European idea of nationality, we're guided by the spirit of Japan, which is also well understood in Korea and China through ancient and enduring ties. DO is a key to Japanese culture, an open door, a first insight."
The exhibition features work from 39 artists, including explorations of the Japanese tea ceremony (Chado) in the short film Silent Harmony; interpretations of individual life journeys (Maho Maeda); dissolution of paths in spatial and temporal collages (Jeauk Kang); the long voyage of a fishing boat (Rainer Junghanns); the ways of nature (Setsuko Fukushima); the futuristic trajectory of a lost star (Jiwon Park) and the pilgrimage routes of Japan (Musui Dono) amongst others.
The project is a collaboration with the German-Japanese Museum Schloss Mitsuko and Raum_fuer_Raum Düsseldorf.

Contemporary Art from CHINA
Over time, NordArt has become a notable platform for contemporary Chinese art. The forthcoming exhibition showcases works by 22 artists from the Chinese art scene. Their work stands out for striking aesthetics, scale and craftsmanship while revealing a critical view of society, questioning current values and reflecting the fears and desires of individuals navigating an increasingly globalised world.
Two special projects can be seen as a part of the Chinese exhibition programme:
The notable installations by the internationally acclaimed artist YIN Xiuzhen – Tower of Sound and Contemplative Thinking – are on display in the Halls of Carlshütte. In the sculpture park, a six-metre-high bronze sculpture titled Walking Man by SU Xinping captures attention, serving as an allegorical representation of China’s dynamic transformation.

The recipient of the NordArt Prize 2024, XIANG Jing, presents a pivotal new work. Her figurative compositions are only outwardly realistic, exploring the complexities of being human in modern times. YANG Song, who won one of the Public Choice Awards last year, reimagines his installation of hypnotic light circles projected onto superfine wire mesh.

The other audience favourites, British painter Paul Critchley and London-based photographer Helga Stentzel, will also unveil new work at NordArt 2025.

Special Project DIRECTIONS – POLAND
Curated by Prof. Jan Wiktor Sienkiewicz, the exhibition in the ACO Wagenremise presents selected work by 14 Polish artists, illustrating the background and development of trends and movements of contemporary Polish art around the turn of the 21st century. These changes are closely linked to the European and American art scenes. A defining moment in this artistic shift was the fall of the Berlin Wall and Poland’s accession to the European Union – a theme explored in most of the site-specific works created exclusively for NordArt. A part of the Polish project is in the halls of NordArt – Dubious is the World by Wiesław Smętek offers a powerful commentary on the fragility of peace.
The project is accomplished under the patronage of Pawel Jaworski, Consul General of Poland in Hamburg.

Mongolian Contemporary Art
Curated by OYUNTUYA Oyunjargal
The Mongolian contemporary art exposition combines nomadic heritage with modern forms of expression. Since 2015, it has captivated the audience of NordArt with its narrative depth and stylistic diversity. Under the title Tradition in Transition: The Return of the Ancestors, three artists demonstrate the merging of tradition and modernity in art. The focal point of the exposition is the 17-meter-long painting by ZAYASAIKHAN Sambuu, exploring the spiritual connection between past and present. The exhibition also includes installations of masks and sculptures.
The project is under the patronage of the Embassy of Mongolia.

NordArt 2025 also presents landscape impressions by six Chilean artists in collaboration with the Chilean Embassy.

Curator Carmen Blumensohn showcases multimedia installations by Ronen Sharabani from Israel as part of a cultural programme marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany.

However, since art remains open to many interpretations, NordArt visitors will certainly discover their personal favourites and highlights from the rich tapestry of outstanding work of all participating artists.

The artists' list for NordArt 2025
The comprehensive catalogue in German and English will be published to coincide with the opening of NordArt 2025.

Kunstwerk Carlshütte is a non-profit cultural initiative established by the internationally active ACO Group, in collaboration with the towns of Büdelsdorf and Rendsburg. It is a distinctive venue for exhibitions, concerts, readings and cultural events. Since 1999, the centrepiece of Kunstwerk Carlshütte has been the annual NordArt exhibition, held during the summer months.
The venue encompasses the historic foundry halls, offering 22,000 square meters of exhibition space, an 80,000-square-meter sculpture park and the ACO Wagenremise.

The curatorial team for NordArt includes
Principal Curator Wolfgang Gramm, Senior Curator Inga Aru and Curator Taso Gramm.
The hosts and principal sponsors of Kunstwerk Carlshütte are entrepreneurs Hans-Julius and Johanna Ahlmann.

NordArt 2025 is scheduled from 6 June to 5 October
Visiting hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am – 7 pm; the exhibition is closed on Mondays.
Address: Vorwerksallee, 24782 Büdelsdorf, Germany
Contact: +49 4331 354 695 • info@nordart.de