Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Die Zauberflöte, Oper von Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Entwurf zur Dekoration, Die Sternenhalle der Königin der Nacht, Detail / Bildnachweis: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Kupferstichkabinett / Jörg P. Anders

Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Die Zauberflöte, Oper von Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Entwurf zur Dekoration, Die Sternenhalle der Königin der Nacht, Detail / Bildnachweis: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Kupferstichkabinett / Jörg P. Anders

Tickets

BIZARRE!
The Art History of the Craziest Word in the World

November 2025 to March 2026
Kulturforum

Since the Renaissance, “bizarre” has been the ultimate description of realities that radically question the order of the world: exceptional psychological states, dreams, monstrosities, and hair-raising behaviour, but also daring ideas and ingenious creations.

The exhibition at the Kunstbibliothek (Art Library) is the first of its kind. It explores the term’s origins, following its career from the artists’ studios and scholars’ dens of the early modern period up to present-day consciousness research and quantum physics. In the 21st century, the now more than 500-year-old history of the bizarre has reached a new peak: An idea in art becomes the concept behind the world, in which the “bizarre” is perhaps the last reliable factor.

Bizarre! is an adventurous journey of discovery through the Kunstbibliothek’s book and museum collections, featuring more than 150 fantastical objects from the history of the visual arts, architecture, fashion, photography, design, and book and media arts. Many bizarre visual ideas are making their public debut in this exhibition.


A special exhibition of the Kunstbibliothek – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Matthäikirchplatz
10785 Berlin

wheelchair accessible

U-Bahn: Potsdamer Platz
S-Bahn: Potsdamer Platz
Bus: Potsdamer Brücke, Potsdamer Platz Bhf / Voßstraße, Kulturforum, Philharmonie

Sun 10:00 - 18:00
Mon closed
Tue 10:00 - 18:00
Wed 10:00 - 18:00
Thu 10:00 - 20:00
Fri 10:00 - 18:00
Sat 10:00 - 18:00

Special opening hours during public holidays

Tel 030 - 266 42 42 42 (Mon - Fri, 9 am - 4 pm)
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