Speaking of Video Art

Once a month, with “Speaking of Video Art”, the Berlinische Galerie invites you to a small group exchange about the current program in the IBB video room. The series of events offers the opportunity to discuss films or socio-political issues in art and to get to know various artists and authors. Together, we watch selected videos and read short excerpts from essays, theory, stories or poems in English or German that are related to the works in terms of content or form. The subsequent discussion makes it possible to explore both discursive tracks of the video works as well as perspectives and questions from the group.

In October, we will watch the third film in the “Particular Waters” trilogy by Su Yu Hsin together. In the video, the artist deals with the transition from the extraction of fossil fuels to the production of microelectronics at the industrial site of Dresden Gittersee. For the film, we read passages from political scientist Olaf Klenke about the microchip industry in the GDR. We are looking at material from the Robert Havemann archive of the GDR opposition on the protests against the devastating ecological risks of silicon production planned in Gittersee. Based on quotations from the book “Wildes repeated. material from below.” published by Suza Husse and Elske Rosenfeld. Dissident stories between GDR and PostDeutschland”, we discuss whether there is anything we can learn from the environmental protests of the GDR opposition today.

Since 2011, the IBB video room has been presenting artists who work with time-based media. The program shows works that address media as well as political and social issues. Particular attention is paid to giving space to marginalized perspectives and making the effects of power structures visible.

The series of events will be moderated by Louisa Engel, research trainee education and outreach. The appointments can be attended independently of each other. No preparation is required to participate. Active participation in the discussion or relaxed listening are both equally welcome.

Language: The event will be held in German and English. In order to enable exchange with each other, all participants should have at least a passive understanding of both languages.

Participation free of charge, online registration