ostrale biennale 2027

For the 16th time, OSTRALE is hosting its international exhibition of contemporary art, the OSTRALE Biennale. The O27 will take place from June 4th to October 3rd, 2027, at various locations in Dresden and in public spaces .

The focus of the O27 Biennale is on the human being – as an individual and as a driving force: What does it mean to be human – in today's world?

Since the Second World War, much of Europe seemed to live under a stable promise of peace. Today, however, the reality of war has once again become palpable. The societal upheavals are reaching deep into people's hearts: into their feelings, into their fears.

In this context, the focus shifts to the human condition – that “human condition” which constantly oscillates between good and evil, violence and tolerance, hatred and love.

The same driving forces repeatedly emerge: possession, power, wealth, the "ever more" as an anthropological constant.

We counter this destructive dynamic with freedom and lived diversity – diversity of artistic expression, diversity of human emotions. A world characterized by pluralism, openness, reflection, and negotiation.

Art cannot prevent war. But it can sharpen perception, activate memory, and foster empathy. Furthermore, engaging with it can provide relief. The search for beauty and the awareness of where one can orient oneself and develop further are certainly well satisfied by art.

This realization is the hope of the OSTRALE Biennale 2027: that man, confronted with his own conditio humana, will not only recognize his abysses, but also his capacity for freedom and responsibility.