Düsseldorf Exhibition Explores East Asian Pop Culture's Global Reach

A new exhibition in the western German city of Düsseldorf is putting East Asian pop culture under one roof, tracing its growing influence on mainstream tastes in Germany and beyond.

Titled "Asia Pop", the show opens on 17 September and will run until 23 May 2027. Organisers say it offers a wide-ranging look at the cultural, political, economic and aesthetic influences flowing from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

Co-curator Charlotte Ickler said the exhibition's central aim is to present pop culture from East Asia and examine its impact on German and Western audiences, while asking why it has become so popular in Germany and Europe at present.

According to Ickler, the project stands out for covering not just one country but all five East Asian regions, making it likely the first of its kind in Germany and possibly in Europe.

The collection comprises around 1,000 objects, many of them videos, arranged by genre. Separate sections are devoted to food, music, gaming, series and fashion, so that visitors can find something of interest regardless of their tastes.

Interactive elements form a significant part of the experience. Visitors can sing karaoke, take photographs and play games, allowing them to engage directly with the exhibits rather than simply viewing them.

Among the items on display are the woodcut "The Great Wave of Kanagawa" by Kokusai Katsushika, mannequins wearing outfits drawn from Asian pop culture, Tamagotchi toys, Gashapon capsule machines, K-pop merchandise, plush food items and rotating sushi plates. Posters for "Kung Fu Hustle" and displays tied to "Squid Game" and anime such as "Heidi" also feature, alongside a karaoke bar entrance and cardboard cutouts.

The exhibition reflects a broader trend in which comics, movies, food and other elements of East Asian popular culture have come to play a decisive role in the global mainstream.