ASIA POP exhibition at the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf

Kawaii, karaoke, cultural policy

Hello Kitty, Studio Ghibli, BTS and a monkey king in gaming form: with ASIA POP, the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf is dedicating Germany’s first comprehensive exhibition to East Asian pop culture. Featuring a karaoke room, ramen in the foyer and the question of just how much politics there is in a soft toy cat.

Hello Kitty wears a red bow on her left ear, has no mouth, and has been taking the world by storm for decades. How does a little cat from Japan manage to do such a thing? And who stands to gain from it?

ASIA POP at the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf is seeking answers – until 23 May 2027. As Germany’s first comprehensive exhibition of its kind, it examines the cultural, political, economic and aesthetic influences from East Asia. The venue is fitting: no German city is home to more people of East Asian origin than Düsseldorf.

Morphoria (2014, Düsseldorf), Ultra Fluffy AI Cat, (Maru), 2026

Spanning 1,200 square metres, the exhibition brings together around 400 works from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Studio Ghibli films meet the South Korean boy band BTS, whilst kawaii characters meet the action game *Black Myth: Wukong*. The sections follow everyday life: beauty, fashion, film and television, games and music.

Behind all the colour lies a serious question: how do nations use pop culture as soft power to gain political and economic influence? And what are the implications for authenticity, identity and cultural appropriation? A separate section is dedicated to fans of these cultural phenomena.

The ASIA POP exhibition is about more than just looking. There are games to play, selfie stations, a reading corner and a karaoke room. This allows visitors to try out the trends for themselves, examine them critically and then share their experiences.

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For a break afterwards, in keeping with the style of the exhibition, PONG in the foyer of the venue is the place to go. In collaboration with Takumi, the menu now also features ramen and other typical Asian dishes and drinks.

→ Visit the ASIA POP exhibition at the NRW-Forum

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Kawaii, karaoke, cultural policy

→ Visit the ASIA POP exhibition at the NRW-Forum

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