Elmgreen & Dragset unveiled ‘Handle with Care’ at the Sammlung Goetz in Munich

The new Schaufenster space at Sammlung Goetz in central Munich opens with an Elmgreen & Dragset exhibition, setting the tone for a programme dedicated to bold artistic expression. Running from December 5th, 2025 to February 28th, 2026, the project explores the shifting boundaries between private and public spaces, a theme at the heart of the duo’s work.

A new chapter for Sammlung Goetz

Located on Pacellistraße in Sep Ruf’s emblematic Neue Maxburg arcade, Schaufenster is conceived as a literal and metaphorical showcase for the collection while its main site undergoes renovation. Floor-to-ceiling windows open the exhibition to the city, aligning with the curatorial idea of presenting key artistic voices in a format that remains transparent, accessible, and connected to the urban environment.

Elmgreen & Dragset reframe private and public space

With Handle with Care, Elmgreen & Dragset inaugurate the venue with an exhibition that merges their own works with selected pieces from the Sammlung Goetz. The title plays on caution labels found on crates used to transport art, suggesting both physical fragility and the emotional care required in human relationships.

The duo is known for its poignant and often unsettling installations, which frequently feature life-size, hyper-realistic figures placed in ambiguous scenarios. These staged environments highlight questions of vulnerability, social tension and identity, themes that run throughout this exhibition.

Dialogues across artists and iIdeas

The exhibition brings together works that capture suspended, intimate moments, depicting figures caught in quiet tension or reflection. These scenes subtly challenge our understanding of closeness, prompting us to reconsider both private and public spaces. Cindy Sherman’s self-portraits and Richard Prince’s appropriated imagery further explore this theme, with both artists dismantling the concept of a fixed identity, thereby echoing Elmgreen & Dragset’s fascination with roles and performance.

Meanwhile, Rosemarie Trockel’s knitted forms reflect on domesticity and care, and Tom Sachs’ scorched dollar bill critiques cultural value and consumption. Curated by Karsten Löckemann, Handle with Care situates Elmgreen & Dragset alongside artists who explore vulnerability, materiality and contemporary identity, offering a sharp and nuanced introduction to the new Schaufenster.

Read our interview with Elmgreen & Dragset, where the duo delves into curated nature, urban landscapes, and the illusions we inherit from visual culture.