A groundbreaking pop-up exhibition opening November 20th at Dresden's Japanese Palace will challenge preconceptions about knitting, transforming the traditionally mundane craft into a bold contemporary art statement. The startup 'neuerdings' has curated works from international artists, designers, and makers who approach knitting with experimental, loud, and ironic perspectives rather than conventional methods.
The exhibition's genesis came from an unexpected source: Bettina Kletzsch, owner of the Kletzsch fashion house on Louisenstrasse 72. Anna Weiß from the startup 'neuerdings' explains that Kletzsch approached them after their last exhibition 'Please Don't Sit' and expressed her desire to display a large blanket in the space. This sparked the team's idea to interpret knitting through a contemporary lens.
'neuerdings,' founded by Anna Weiß along with partners Luise Thiem and Lorenz Köhler, specializes in revitalizing unused spaces throughout Dresden. For this knitting-focused exhibition, they successfully assembled numerous female artists, designers, and makers who approach the craft from surprisingly diverse angles - as commentary on body and identity, as research into materials and processes, or as expressions of communal care.
The exhibition will feature works including 'The Animal' by Hanna Remestvenska, 'The Knot' by Anna-Lena Hamann, and 'The Cake' by Fritzi Fuß, alongside the wall blanket by Bettina Kletzsch that originally inspired the show. Katja Gärtner and Crochet of Death will display framed textiles and a jacket, demonstrating the remarkable diversity possible within this thematic framework.
For the organizers, knitting represents a fascinating intersection between domestic routine and artistic gesture. The craft has gained renewed attention in recent years as a meditative practice, collective experience, and creative experiment. Anna Weiß believes this aligns perfectly with her company's mission, stating, 'Knitting connects people. It leads to analog and open exchange. That's exactly what's needed to create a vibrant city.'
The company 'neuerdings konzipiert Orte' (neuerdings designs spaces) was established in early 2025 by Luise Thiem, Anna Weiß, and Lorenz Köhler. The trio dedicates themselves to unconventional design of previously unused spaces in Dresden. Their first project was implemented in the market hall, where instead of long-term contracts, spaces are allocated to rotating gastronomy and retail offerings, allowing operators to test market reception without significant economic risk.
Luise Thiem identifies a fundamental problem in Dresden: insufficient spaces where people can gather, combined with significant vacancy on one side and initiatives needing space on the other. Lorenz Köhler emphasizes their participatory approach, explaining, 'Instead of top-down principles, our approaches are participatory and developed together with residents, property owners, and city politics.' He sees their young company's ability to act faster than established authorities and institutions as a key advantage.
The founders' interest in creative urban development emerged from their involvement in the downtown project 'Sustainable City Centers and Centers' (ZIZ), where they first met. With their new company, they now stand ready to support anyone wanting to advance their city.
The exhibition 'Knit Happens' will run from November 20th through December 18th, with a soft opening from 4 to 6 PM on the opening day. Regular exhibition hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM, with free admission at the Japanese Palace, located at Palaisplatz 11, 01097 Dresden. The exhibition represents another step in 'neuerdings' mission to breathe life into Dresden's unused spaces while fostering community connections through innovative cultural programming.
