DIPLOME 2026 Cultural Critique

[E] This module includes the development and realisation of the Master Cultural Critique DIPLOME 2025 exhibition. The students will work in teams addressing all the necessary steps to produce this exhibition and the accompanying mediation program: from thematic and conceptual framing, to exchange with graduates, scenography and visual identity, production, and moderation. The students are accompanied by Leila Alder (MA Cultural Publishing) and Hannah Eßler (MA Curatorial Studies) who act as initiators, moderators and experts to guide the process and will be mentored occasionally by Barbara Sommer and Anselm Franke.

We will collectively reflect on genres: historical exhibition, essay exhibition, festival, archival exhibition, contemporary art exhibition, or a mix of the all above, and examine how discursive forms and frameworks are often deployed to produce meaning. The aim is to create an exhibition that showcases this years Curatorial Studies and Cultural Publishing MA graduates.

The exhibition developed in the module will be presented to the public during the ZHdK DIPLOME 2026 exhibition in 5.K03 (TBC). Opening Thursday, 11th June. The exhibition runs until Friday, 26th June 2026.