The ninth edition of the "Various Others" festival in Munich brings together institutions, off-spaces, and galleries for a city-wide series of exhibitions in May. Highlights include Walter Storms Galerie presenting Anselm Reyle's first Munich solo show with Istanbul's Dirimart; Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler collaborating with Rome's T293 to show Simon Denny's tech-critical works; Max Goelitz pairing Lukas Heerich and Rindon Johnson with Eva Hesse in dialogue with Hauser & Wirth; Lohaus Sominsky and Paris's Mennour featuring Ilit Azoulay and Alicja Kwade; and Rüdiger Schöttle hosting Milena Muzquiz and Elif Saydam. A new parcours exhibition, "Vectors," inspired by Jan Hoet's "Chambres d'Amis," places contemporary art in tech company offices across Munich.
The festival matters because it reinforces Munich's position as a dynamic art hub, fostering international dialogue through partnerships with galleries from Istanbul, Rome, Paris, Madrid, and London. The inclusion of "Vectors" directly engages the city's tech sector, questioning art's role in technological change. By mixing established names like Willem de Kooning and Eva Hesse with emerging artists, "Various Others" demonstrates how collaborative, decentralized formats can create fresh curatorial narratives and attract diverse audiences beyond traditional museum spaces.