KÜSSE Berlin: Multidisciplinary Curatorial Laboratory and Concept Space

KÜSSE Berlin is a multidisciplinary artistic collective and curatorial laboratory that serves as a hybrid platform for contemporary art, design, and independent publishing. Originally established in 2019 as a nomadic project in Kathmandu, Nepal, the initiative has since evolved into a permanent concept space and gallery located in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin, Germany. Founded by Mathilde Castaignède, the space is conceived as an ephemeral environment where the boundaries between art gallery, retail shop, and research laboratory are blurred. At the core of KÜSSE Berlin is a commitment to supporting emerging international artists and challenging traditional institutional thinking through alternative and immersive exhibition formats. The collective functions as a curatorial experimentation space, integrating diverse art forms such as cinema, poetry, fashion design, and workshops into its visual arts program. Their curated retail selection includes a specialized range of books, fanzines, and original artworks, alongside archival and second-hand pieces that juxtapose the contemporary with the vintage. Beyond exhibitions, KÜSSE Berlin organizes diverse events including life drawing sessions, emotion cartography workshops, and collective reading circles, fostering an environment for meditation, contemplation, and philosophical reflection. The platform has gained recognition for projects like the 48H ABRACADABRA festival and its extensive international collaborations with residencies in Brazil, India, and New Zealand. Through its innovative curatorial approach, KÜSSE Berlin aims to create meaningful encounters between artists and the public, transforming the gallery into a safe, engaging living space for social and artistic innovation.