It’s striking how absent the artist feels from his own exhibition as staff bustle through the rooms serving curry (daily at 1pm) and small cups of hot Turkish coffee. These interactions are key to the Thai artist’s pioneering practice, which introduced an entirely new social realm to the experience of art.
Tents, the architecture of the migrant (Tiravanija was once one himself), do their best to make the rooms of the Gropius Bau more intimate, but too often, the interactive installations feel drained in the cavernous interiors. Nevertheless, it is an enthralling show that dredges contemporary German history to bring a pertinent commentary on migration. ★★★★☆
- DAS GLÜCK IST NICHT IMMER LUSTIG, through Jan 12, 2025, Gropius Bau, Mitte, details.
