The exhibition The Story That Never Ends. The ZKM Collection offers a special look into one of the world’s most important media art collections. Around 100 works illustrate the development of media art from the 1950s to the present day—from early video installations to AI-based works. The exhibition shows how artists, then and now, make creative use of new technologies to critically reflect on topics such as power, surveillance, gender, and ecology. Key works by artists such as Bill Viola and Nam June Paik make these developments tangible and open up new perspectives on our relationship with technology.
A special highlight: the selection of works was made by the ZKM’s conservators, who bring hidden treasures to light with their expertise—works that, due to extensive preservation efforts, have not been shown publicly for decades. Visitors will also gain insights into the challenges of media art conservation and learn how technical fragility affects our cultural memory. The exhibition invites visitors to explore the past, present, and possible futures through the lens of media art.
Shown at Media art is here (2025).
Time: 05.04.2025 – 20.09.2026
Location: ZKM | Karlsruhe, Lichthof 8+9, EG
