The exhibition Civilization explores various aspects of our exceptionally complex coexistence, ranging from humanity's greatest achievements to our collective failures. It takes a global perspective, examining cultures from all continents: how we produce and consume, work and play, travel and live, think and create, cooperate and conflict. In an era marked by increasing divisions among people and opinions, where achieving necessary consensus seems ever more difficult, this exhibition highlights our commonalities.

Never before in human history have so many people been so interconnected and simultaneously dependent on one another. Modern phenomena such as the Olympic Games, jumbo jets, smartphones, social media, and artificial intelligence, while often debated, would not exist without the preserved knowledge of earlier times and the shared efforts of highly qualified, educated, and motivated individuals.

The exhibition features 230 photographs that guide visitors through eight chapters, each addressing central aspects of civilization:

• BIENENSTOCK: This room showcases photographs documenting the complex coexistence of people in the world's megacities, highlighting architectural features and diverse lifestyles in urban life.
• ZUSAMMEN ALLEIN: This chapter explores the tension between individuality and collectivity, illustrating our need for belonging while striving to maintain personal identity.
• KONTROLLIEREN: This section examines the often invisible contexts of authority and power exercised in society.
• FLIESSEN: This chapter discusses the movement of people, goods, and finances and the highly perfected infrastructures that keep our civilization functioning.
• BEEINFLUSSEN: This section looks at various strategies used to evoke needs and manipulate behavior.
• BRECHEN: This chapter focuses on the causes and consequences of conflicts and migration, as well as the fractures within our societal structures.
• ENTFLIEHEN: This section reveals how the sophisticated mechanisms of the holiday and leisure industry allow people to escape their daily lives and retreat into dream worlds.
• ALS NÄCHSTES: The final chapter casts a look toward the world that is about to become our future, raising questions about ethical responsibilities regarding new technologies and the adaptability required in the face of ecological challenges.

Alongside renowned artists such as Candida Höfer, Edward Burtynsky, and Thomas Struth, the exhibition also features younger photographers like Pablo López Luz, Sheng-Wen Lo, and Julia Chamberlain.