UK Culture Radar

Gaia is a stunning touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram. Measuring seven metres in diameter and featuring detailed NASA imagery, it offers a breathtaking 3D view of Earth. Inspired by the “Overview Effect” experienced by astronauts, Gaia invites reflection on our planet’s beauty, fragility, and interconnectedness. Accompanied by a surround sound composition by BAFTA-winner Dan Jones, the slowly rotating sculpture creates an immersive and moving experience.

From the creators of the hit exhibition The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind, which has attracted over 2.5 million visitors across 24 cities and seven countries, comes a bold new concept: House of Banksy – An Unauthorized Exhibition. Featuring more than 150 iconic works, it’s one of the most comprehensive presentations of Banksy's art in Europe to date. House of Banksy opens in Leipzig at the end of March 2025. More info here.

John Akomfrah’s The Unfinished Conversation (2012) is a poignant tribute to cultural theorist Stuart Hall, exploring his idea that identity is fluid and ever-evolving. Across three screens, Akomfrah weaves archival footage with historic moments, creating a rich visual and audio tapestry. The result is a powerful reflection on how we understand ourselves and others. More info here.

Renowned for her expressive wire animal sculptures, British artist Kendra Haste presents her first solo exhibition in Germany, featuring eleven striking works that have captivated audiences from London to Asia. More info here. 

The Julia Stoschek Foundation presents one of the most extensive solo exhibitions by British artist Mark Leckey to date. “Enter Thru Medieval Wounds” traces the intersections between pop and youth culture, social class, and the evolution of technology from the 1970s to the present. More info here.

The Heidelberg Sculpture Park presents works by the British sculptor Tony Cragg. The show is in cooperation with the Skulpturengarten Spanischer Turm in Darmstadt. A selection of 15 works, curated by the artist himself, will be shown in a joint exhibition at the Skulpturenpark Heidelberg and the Skulpturengarten Spanischer Turm in Darmstadt. More info here.

Artist Varvara Keidan Shavrova’s new solo exhibition will open at the Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation in Berlin on 1 February 2025. The exhibition focuses on Shavrova’s social and performative textile installation, Migrants Blankets (2018). She will run a workshop on 2 February for participants who wish to use creative techniques to transform personal memories into unique artworks.

Chemnitz is European Capital of Culture in 2025. Part of its cultural programme is PURPLE PATH, an art and sculpture trail that will showcase works by renowned international, national and Saxon artists. The result is an exhibition in public space which includes pieces from Tony Cragg, Richard Long and Sean Scully.

16 exceptional emerging filmmakers came to Berlin to take part in this year’s Berlinale Talents in February. Berlinale Talents is the talent development programme run by the Berlinale, Berlin’s international film festival, with 200 filmmakers selected from all over the world. This year’s theme was Listen Courageously: Cinematic Narratives in Times of Dissonance. We have conducted interviews with Berlinale Talents from the UK. Explore them here.

Our 2024 Literature Seminar is now available on YouTube! Dive into readings and panel discussions with five of Granta's latest Best of Young British Novelists. Watch here.