Die Asta is a modern, immersive take on the art form Asta Nielsen (Denmark, 1881 - 1972) helped create and the time she lived in. The exhibition vibe is the feeling of entering an underground club in Berlin: Die Asta allows the guests to lose themselves for a moment.

For a quarter of a century, Danish actress Asta Nielsen was based in Berlin and had the whole world at her feet when she appeared in more than 70 (seventy) silent films. She made film acting an art form and, at the same time, symbolised the dynamic and trendsetting modern woman – a true boss lady. Babelsberg, the German answer to Hollywood, was founded thanks to Asta Nielsen. And for millions of fans around the world, she simply became “Die Asta” – a phenomenon so huge that her surname became superfluous.

   
The exhibition focuses on Asta Nielsen’s films from 1910 to 1932. Designed as a total installation, the exhibition offers a compelling and unique journey into a dark dream world with the opportunity to experience highlights of Asta’s entire life on the screen. Asta Nielsen participated in 74 (seventyfour) productions. Less than half still exist - and some of them only partially. So, the material is extensive but at the same time limited. The primary focal points of the exhibition are ten of the most evocative clips from her career. These clips not only show the diversity of her talent but also serve as a launch pad for stories about female roles, sexuality and the roaring 1910s and 1920s that Asta was such an important part of.

Large scale projections make Asta Nielsen “larger than life”, just as she was in the 1910s and 1920s. In other words, the exhibition is to be shown on large-scale projections that bring the films back to life and emphasize their beautiful tactility. Moreover, the sheer size makes it possible to study Nielsen’s sense of dress, make up and movement in detail.

The silent film might be without sound, but it was never meant to be experienced in total silence. A special feature in the exhibition is internationally acclaimed electronic composer Bjørn Svin (Denmark, 1975), who has composed a spectacular sound scape for the exhibition’s film clips.