Harlem Renaissance III

On the occasion of the exhibition The Heart of the Matter, actor Langston Uibel and director Sarah Elisabeth Braun are developing the performative intervention Harlem Renaissance, which takes place over three evenings in November. Based on texts by Toni Morrison, Langston Hughes and other central voices of the Harlem Renaissance, the intervention addresses questions of black identity and belonging in Germany. Inspired by Harlem in Vogue and The Sweet Flypaper of Life by Langston Hughes and Roy DeCarava — important reference points for several series of works by Carrie Mae Weems — she brings literature and music into a dialogue with the exhibited photographs of the American artist. The creative process can be experienced directly by the audience through the staging of a rehearsal accompanied by stringed instruments.

Langston Uibel (*1998, London) is a British-German actor. He became known for Netflix productions such as Dogs of Berlin, How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) and Unorthodox. In 2023, he played one of the main roles in Red Sky by Christian Petzold, which premiered in the 73rd Berlinale competition and was awarded the Silver Bear — Grand Jury Prize. He made his theatre debut in A Midsummer Night's Dream at Vienna's Burgtheater. His upcoming cinema projects include Bibi Blocksberg, Sentimental Fail Club, Hyper Baby and Britta Schlag. He is also joining the ensemble of the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, where he will be seen in selected productions. He is currently rehearsing for The Seagull under the direction of Barbara Frey.

Sarah Elisabeth Braun (*1997, Filderstadt) is an Afro-German artist. She studies theatre direction at HfS Ernst Busch and is a scholarship holder of the German National Academic Foundation. Her texts have been included in the book System Criticism! and released Sisters and Souls 2. Her work in artistic and political contexts focuses on making migrant, anti-fascist and black perspectives visible and strengthening them. In 2025, her directorial work A Contradiction was invited to the Plug & Play Festival.

Produced by Coldharbour Lane Director: Sarah Elisabeth Braun Dramaturgy: Helen Waeder Production: Pele Uibel Production Design: Asta Hansen Video: Itohan Emonvomwa Violin: Sofie Royer Violin: Neneh Sowe