The Bundeskunsthalle is mounting an exhibition on ecological land restoration as part of its interdisciplinary series exploring scientific and socially pressing issues. Created in close partnership with the UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification), the exhibition arrives at the end of 2024—marking the UNCCD's 30th anniversary. The G20 Global Land Initiative has set an ambitious goal: restoring one billion hectares of land by 2030. Through the combined lens of art and science, this exhibition sharpens our understanding of an urgent challenge. Land forms the essential foundation for all life on Earth. Soil connects the planet's climate systems with biological diversity, sustaining the diverse ecosystems we must restore and protect. Yet land faces catastrophic overuse. As both agricultural and industrial resource, it's being systematically degraded—half of humanity already feels the consequences. To counter this economic and social devastation, land must reclaim its rightful place at the center of our decisions and actions.

To engage audiences with this vital theme, the exhibition harnesses cutting-edge media technology and draws together artworks, cultural artifacts, and scientific displays—all exploring the ecological challenges and possibilities within three human-shaped environments: (1) cities, home to 57% of the global population, (2) land used for agriculture and industry, and (3) the world's remaining pristine wilderness areas, which are critical to our climate. The exhibition transcends passive learning. It invites visitors into immersive environments where "land" becomes tangible and explorable—through a panoramic cinema, interactive installations, and multisensory spaces. Rather than presenting a grim future, the exhibition embraces a hopeful narrative—one that galvanizes visitors to act for our collective future.

Artists (selection): Julius von Bismarck, Stefanie Bühler, Julian Charrière, Ximena Garrido-Lecca, Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, Nancy Graves, Jan Hostettler, Cao Fei, Richard Long, Claes Oldenburg, Monika Sosnowska

www.bundeskunsthalle.de