The exhibition presented works from the Schwabing Trove, a collection discovered in 2012 and amassed by Dr. Hildebrand Gurlitt (1895–1956), a museum director, art dealer, and agent for the Third Reich. Fateful Choices explored the fate of art in Europe during the dark years of the Third Reich, raising questions about the relationship between art and ethics, and the tension between political pressures and individual choices.

The design challenge was to display the artworks while telling Gurlitt’s life story within the historical context. This challenge was resolved through spatial planning: the central structure served as an organizing element within the gallery, featuring a short documentary that unfolded the main narrative behind the exhibition. It also defined circulation and structured the works into four distinct periods of Gurlitt’s life.

Along the perimeter walls, artworks acquired by Gurlitt were exhibited, while openings in the central space allowed glimpses across the gallery, creating a layered experience of history and art.