KONZEPT [Berlin]: Pop-Up by industrialkonzept & A KONZEPT
Set against the brutalist backdrop of Karl-Marx-Allee, KONZEPT [Berlin] transformed a gallery space into an exploration of materiality, form, and perception. Curated by industrialkonzept and A KONZEPT, the exhibition challenged the boundaries between art and utility, showcasing a selection of radical design objects that balanced weight and weightlessness, function and abstraction. Works by Obscure Objects, Söderberg, Jacob Egeberg, and Vittorio Valigi & Swedish Girls created an environment where metal, leather, and industrial textures interacted in deliberate tension.
A key highlight was Gufram & Snarkitecture’s Broken Series, which played with illusions of destruction and transformation. Pieces like the Broken Mirror and Broken Bench appeared fractured and worn yet were crafted from soft polyurethane, subverting expectations of material rigidity. This contrast between visual decay and unexpected softness reinforced the exhibition’s focus on perception—what appears broken is, in reality, something entirely functional and designed.
The curation embraced radical minimalism and industrial brutalism, two aesthetics deeply embedded in Berlin’s design language. The “GOD CHOSE YOU” bench installation by Vittorio Valigi & Swedish Girls exemplified this approach, combining stark industrial elements with conceptual depth. Each piece engaged in a conversation between architectural presence and artistic intervention, making the space feel both raw and intentional.
More than just a pop-up, KONZEPT [Berlin] positioned design as an architectural statement, redefining how objects interact with space and meaning. As a standout event during Berlin Fashion Week 2025, the exhibition reflected the city’s heritage of progressive design while pushing forward the discourse on contemporary material experimentation. Text description by the architects.
