Video Killed the Radio Star: The 1980s and Their Cultural Echoes is an exhibition presented by Mudam Luxembourg that explores the artistic production of the 1980s, a decade marked by profound political, social, and cultural transformations. The Cold War, postcolonial thought, feminist movements, and the introduction of new technologies deeply reshaped public discourse, redefining cultural boundaries, perspectives, and paradigms. In this context, images and their aesthetics acquired a new power, becoming tools for political and cultural reflection and debate.
Through works from the Mudam collection, international loans, and archival materials, the exhibition retraces the transformations that shaped the decade, highlighting how the issues that emerged during these years continue to influence society and the way we perceive and interpret reality today.
Bringing together a wide range of artistic practices, from photography and painting to portraiture and installation, Video Killed the Radio Star presents the 1980s as a turning point, when social and technological changes became intertwined with a new understanding of the image and its role in contemporary culture.

Date: from June 12 to October 11, 2026
More Info: MUDAM 

Image: Angharad Williams, Myself as Tinky Winky as Iggy Pop, 2025
Friends & Fools, a members’ club
by Rote Wand – Courtesy de KIN
Photo: Fabrice Schneide

18/08/26