The performative, digital conference can be attended on December 10 via YouTube HERE.
Curated by Mahret Ifeoma Kupka and Isabel Raabe.
Film programme curated by Nnenna Onuoha.
With: Josephine Apraku, Nikita Dhawan, Timea Junghaus, Brunn Morais a.o.
How does the Europe of the era of Romanticism look at the world? And
how does Romanticism still shape Europe’s self-image today?
UNEXPECTED LESSONS #3 is a performative symposium. [Symposium is
another word for a meeting or conference. Performative means: there is
action and speech at the conference]. It takes place digitally. Together
we look critically at the Romantic period. We question the ideas of
this time. Because it still has an effect in Germany and in Europe
today. In art and in politics.
In talks, lectures, artistic actions, film and music, the programme
is dedicated to the question: Are colonial and the ideas of Romanticism
connected? [Colonialism means that many countries in Europe used to
think that their inhabitants were worth more than the inhabitants of
other countries. For example in Africa. That’s why they have the right
to conquer these countries, to oppress and murder the people. They have
determined the politics in these countries. And they have stolen many
things from these countries. Art, for example. Spices. Raw materials. Or
drugs. The European countries found: All this is their right. They can
make the people in the colonies work for them as slaves. They have the
power over them].
We go back to the roots of today’s Europe. What makes up European
culture? We look at the time of the Enlightenment and
Anti-Enlightenment. [The Enlightenment period lasted from 1720 to 1800,
during which time people thought that through thinking and reasoning
they could achieve progress in all areas]. [The Anti-Enlightenment wants
to restore an old state of affairs. It wants to turn back the
developments of the Enlightenment]. We are dealing with the history of
the Sinti and Roma, between adaptation and othering. [Othering means: a
group of people decides that other people or groups do not belong]. We
ask what the relationship is between colonialism and Romanticism. And we
talk about romantic love and power.
The event is part of the transdisciplinary TALKING OBJECTS LAB.
[Transdisciplinary means: it is research from different angles and
fields, not only from the point of view of science]. The TALKING OBJECTS
LAB organises events, artistic actions and artist:in residencies.
[Residency means: working residencies for artists.]
The events deal with these themes: Decolonisation, Knowledge and
Memory, Rethinking Museums and Archives. [Decolonisation means: we
acknowledge the mistakes and exploitation of colonisation and do
something about it today].
The event is planned and organised by a team of curators from Kenya,
Senegal and Germany. Part #1 and #2 of the event took place in
Berlin/Nairobi and Reykjavik respectively. Part #3 will now follow in
cooperation with the Kunsthalle Osnabrück as part of the annual theme of
Romanticism.
The event will be held partly in German and English. Participation is free of charge and without registration.
The exhibition is kindly supported by Kulturstiftung des Bundes,
Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien, Niedersächsische
Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur, VR Stiftung and Freund:innen
der Kunsthalle Osnabrück.
