Steina Vasulka Retrospective Highlights Reykjavík-Born Pioneer at Haus der Kunst Munich
BERG Contemporary presents a significant milestone for Icelandic media art as trailblazing artist Steina Vasulka is featured in a major retrospective, "Steina: Playback," at the Haus der Kunst in Munich. Opening on June 12, 2026, the exhibition marks the first comprehensive overview in Germany dedicated to the artist's pioneering work in video and electronic art.
Experiencing the Vision of Reykjavík-Born Steina Vasulka
Born in Reykjavík in 1940, Steina Vasulka initially trained as a classical violinist and music theorist before relocating to Prague and later joining the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. In the late 1960s, she transitioned to video alongside her partner Woody Vasulka, carrying her musical training into the visual realm. Her early experiments in New York—where the pair co-founded the legendary experimental venue The Kitchen in 1971—approached electronic signals with rhythmic sensitivity, treating sound and image as interconnected phenomena.
Visitors exploring her expansive installations encounter what the artist describes as "machine vision"—a non-anthropocentric perspective that expands human perception. Tracing her artistic evolution from early documentary recordings to multichannel environments, the retrospective at Haus der Kunst highlights how landscapes, particularly those echoing her Icelandic origins, intersect with pioneering electronic infrastructures.
What to Expect at the Munich Retrospective
Organized by the MIT List Visual Arts Center in collaboration with the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, "Playback" functions almost like an unfolding musical score. Voices fracture into loops, images stretch across rhythmic intervals, and environments vibrate with living currents.
For followers of contemporary and media art seeking deeper context on Icelandic artists making an international impact, exploring local gallery spaces can offer further inspiration. Culture enthusiasts mapping out their next creative journey can discover more contemporary spaces through Musemap (musemap.art), browse the complete museum directory, or check the interactive map view to plan a local gallery itinerary.
