Lygia Clark

Lygia Clark (1920–1988) was one of the leading representatives of Brazilian “Neoconcretismo”. With her approach of viewing art as a participative, sensual and even curative experience, she became one of the movement’s pioneering artists in the second half of the 20^th century. Clark’s work shared close ties to European modernism, though she tried to emancipate herself from it. In this broad retrospective, the Neue Nationalgalerie will present an extensive overview of Lygia Clark’s work in Germany for the first time. In cooperation with the Associação Cultural Lygia Clark in Rio de Janeiro, the exhibition will also be the first by the Neue Nationalgalerie which features a non-Western female artist.

Lygia Clark shifted away from painting early in her career in favour of experimenting with small, kinetic sculptures. She later developed objects which could be worn like clothing and allowed the wearer to immerse themselves in the “skin of another”. Clark’s works, which also include a performance where the participants eat fruit together, stimulate all the senses and aim to create a community-building, subjective and sensual artistic experience. Near the end of her career, Clark even developed her own therapy sessions to overcome inner blockades. The recipients became her clients.

To fully experience Lygia Clark’s participative, dialogical approach, the visitors are invited to interact with the artworks on display and take part in workshops, group performances and Clark’s “therapy sessions”.
 

Artistic director: Klaus Biesenbach
Curators: Maike Steinkamp, Irina Hiebert Grun
Artist: Lygia Clark

Exhibition: Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin: March – September 2025