The exhibition ‘MISHPOCHA – The Art of Collaboration’ translates the idea of togetherness, guided by the theme ‘Mishpocha’ (Yiddish for family), into a holistic spatial, visual and interactive experience. Curated in collaboration with Mike D (Beastie Boys), the exhibition invites visitors to actively shape a sense of community through sound, image and interaction. The scenography, featuring coarse-grained chipboard, modular puzzle elements and colourful collages of colour and carpet, makes the principle of creating together tangible within the space.
The challenge
The idea of collaboration was to be conveyed not only through the content, but also through the space itself. The challenge was to develop a concept that would consistently bring the many facets of the exhibition title to life at every level of the experience.
Our approach
The exhibition title ‘The Art of Collaboration’ forms the starting point for the design concept. Interactive and thematic installations make collaboration tangible as a process and invite visitors to actively participate. Architecture, graphics and the colour concept carry this idea consistently throughout the space.
What does it mean to belong? To be part of something greater than yourself.
Mishpocha – Yiddish for family – has transcended languages and generations and today stands for community, diversity and creative collectives. The exhibition celebrates this contemporary form of belonging. Curated in collaboration with Mike D (Beastie Boys), it is a tribute to the power of togetherness. Through sound, image and interaction, visitors become part of the experience themselves: they form spontaneous collaborations, create art together and redefine the meaning of Mishpocha in real time. A living laboratory of connection – and a celebration of the creative potential that emerges when different voices come together.
MISHPOCHA. What does family mean?
Both Mishpocha and the concept of family are complex and open to interpretation, taking on different meanings and being used in different ways around the world. An immersive sound installation brings together voices from people of diverse backgrounds, sharing what Mishpocha means to them personally. This complexity fills the space and provides the conceptual introduction to the exhibition.
ROOTS. In search for identity.
The artworks on display explore the complexities of diaspora, displacement and the search for identity. They show how a sense of being lost can arise both from geographical displacement and from emotional distance within one’s own family. Yet this experience of remembering and external displacement can also give rise to a deep desire for self-discovery and reflection, as well as for new, freely chosen forms of connection beyond biological structures.
MIX. Creating new spaces together.
An interactive mixing console with pre-programmed media content from different musical genres invites visitors to playfully cross boundaries. By adjusting the controls, they alter visual elements using colour filters and effects, creating a dynamic space for spontaneous collaboration. The installation demonstrates how creative communities emerge and how the interplay of many voices can give rise to new cultural currents.
PLAY. The power of the collective.
‘If you can feel what I’m feeling then it’s a musical master piece‘ (Adam Yauch)
Pre-programmed drum pads invite visitors to actively collaborate and become part of a shared soundscape. Through synchronised interaction, something entirely unique emerges. The installation makes the power of the collective immediately tangible and demonstrates how individual and diverse contributions can come together to form a harmonious whole.
Materiality and design – collaboration as a spatial principle.
The exhibition title is reflected in its materials, forms and colours. Transparent coarse-grained chipboard makes the idea of collaboration visible: many individual wood strands come together to form a strong and stable whole.
This principle continues throughout the exhibition architecture and graphic design. A modular puzzle system, inspired by the Beastie Boys album cover ‘Hot Sauce Committee Part Two‘ together with bold colour fields for the exhibition texts, brings the individual elements together in a colourful collage.
A deep blue defines the first room, creating a calm atmosphere. Orange marks the interactive stations and adds focused accents. The exhibition concludes with a warm carpet collage in shades of orange, inspired by the sunburst finishes of the legendary Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster.
Client: Stadt Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main Artistic Director: Michael Diamond (Mike D) Exhibition design and graphic design: Messegrafik & Messebau Schreiber, Frankfurt am Main Light: Stephan Zimmermann Lightsolutions, Oberursel Media technology: Satis&Fy AG, Karben Sound installation: Mishpocha space: Jan Ove Hennig (Kabuki), Frankfurt am Main Software play and post-production mixing setup: Atelier Markgraph GmbH Software mix: Johannes Lemke, Berlin Exhibit construction mixed table: Chris Walter, Leipzig Foto documentation:Kristof Lemp, Darmstadt Film documentation: Atelier Markgraph GmbH
