Pace Gallery Berlin Exhibits Art of Nightlife

Pace Gallery Berlin is currently hosting a group exhibition titled "Goodbye Sadness, Hello Sadness," which opened on an unspecified date and runs until August 23. The exhibition features the work of 27 artists who explore the emotional complexities of night and nightlife through immersive installations, sculpture, painting, and photography. The show is anchored by a functioning recreation of "Bar Va Bene," a studio bar created by artist Friedrich Kunath in Los Angeles.

The exhibition's title is inspired by Françoise Sagan's 1954 novel "Bonjour Tristesse," which explored themes of desire and hedonism. "Goodbye Sadness, Hello Sadness" uses the concept of the night as a metaphor for possibility and uncertainty, examining the feelings of abandon and belonging associated with after-hours social spaces. The gallery itself, housed in a former gas station in Schöneberg, contributes to the exhibition's unconventional setting.

Notable works include "Bar Va Bene" (2026) by Friedrich Kunath, Elmgreen & Dragset's "But I’m on The Guest List" (2007–15), which presents a "VIP" door leading to nowhere, and "Flash" (2025) by Esben Weile Kjær, a disco ball reimagined as a giant bee. The exhibition also features new works by artists such as Lauren Quin and Kylie Manning, contributing to the exploration of nightlife's diverse moods and aesthetics. Other participating artists include David Lynch, Pol Taburet, Robert Nava, and Alicja Kwade.