Kunsthal Charlottenborg reopens this spring with two new exhibitions on the occasion of CPH:DOX

Thursday 20 March, Kunsthal Charlottenborg invites to a new season with the opening of two exhibitions; the first solo exhibition in Denmark with Banu Cennetoğlu and Disobedience Archive (The Open Storage), which together will focus on the political dimensions of different social and cultural hierarchies and political action through art.

When Kunsthal Charlottenborg opens its doors to two new exhibitions, it will be in collaboration with one of the world’s largest documentary film festivals, CPH:DOX, which will once again has its festival center at Kunsthal Charlottenborg.

Here, the audience can look forward to experiencing the exhibitions BEING SAFE IS SCARY by Istanbul-based visual artist Banu Cennetoğlu and Disobedience Archive (The Open Storage), which presents a wide-ranging collection of video works depicting almost fifty years of social struggles in different parts of the world. Admission to the opening is free. A free ticket to the talk can be booked at cphdox.dk.

Program

16.00-20.00 The exhibitions open
Free admission and bubbles for the first 100 guests. DJ Aida Mai plays, and the bar is open.

17.00-18.00 Launch and talks
HUMAN:RIGHTS in Social Cinema – the event will be held in English. Require booking of a free ticket at cphdox.dk.

17.00-17.10 Welcome
Opening speeches by Henriette Bretton-Meyer, Acting Director of Kunsthal Charlottenborg, and Niklas Engstrøm, Artistic Director of CPH:DOX.

17.10-17.25 Human rights in 2025
The Art of Human Rights – Defending Global Human Rights in 2025
Yasmine Ahmed, UK Director at Human Rights Watch, will give a brief update.

17.25-17.55 Artist Talk
A conversation between artist Banu Cennetoğlu and curator Katarina Stenbeck. Hear more about the exhibition BEING SAFE IS SCARY and the art work right? (2022-ongoing), which deals with the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

17.55-18.00 Screening
Highlights from the HUMAN:RIGHTS film programme.

About the exhibitions

Banu Cennetoğlu: BEING SAFE IS SCARY
Experience the first presentation in Denmark of Istanbul-based visual artist Banu Cennetoğlu (b. 1970, Ankara). She has exhibited at prestigious exhibitions such as documenta and the Venice Biennale with works reflecting a strong commitment to how the production and distribution of text- and image-based information help shape our world. The exhibition BEING SAFE IS SCARY takes its title from one of Cennetoğlu’s works and raises current questions such as: who can be safe, and with what consequences? Read more here

Disobedience Archive (The Open Storage)
Dive into a wide-ranging collection of video works depicting almost fifty years of social struggles in different parts of the world. Disobedience Archive examines the relationship between art and political action by looking at how resistance struggles are translated into moving images in what can be called a form of artistic visual activism. Since 2005, the Disobedience Archive has been presented at institutions worldwide, most recently at the Venice Biennale in 2024. Read more here

The exhibitions are part of HUMAN:RIGHTS – a new collaboration between Kunsthal Charlottenborg, CPH:DOX, and Human Rights Watch Denmark, which, with support from the Frececo Foundation, will focus on human rights in the coming years. The exhibitions are also supported by the Augustinus Foundation, the Danish Arts Foundation, and the Obel Family Foundation.

Practical information

Banu Cennetoğlu: BEING SAFE IS SCARY
19 March – 10 August 2025
Disobedience Archive (The Open Storage)
19 March – 10 August 2025
Exhibition opening: Thursday 20 March, 16.00-20.00, free admission
Artist talk: Thursday 20 March, 17.00-18.00, book a free ticket at cphdox.dk
Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Kongens Nytorv 1, 1050 Copenhagen K
Further info here