In zeitgenössischen Museen können hell erleuchtete Räume - die so genannten „White Boxes“ - im Zusammenspiel mit Kunstwerken, die Szenen von Gewalt und Diskriminierung darstellen, befremdlich wirken. Auch wenn es wichtig ist, historische Ereignisse aufzuarbeiten und Minderheitengruppen sichtbar zu machen, kann der Kontrast zwischen der hellen Umgebung, dem behandelten Sachverhalt und der Realität selbst in diesen Kontexten zu einer Entfremdung führen.
Diese Magisterarbeit untersucht das Spannungsverhältnis zwischen hell erleuchteten Museumsräumen und der Darstellung schwieriger politischer Themen und schlägt dunkle Umgebungen als Gegennarrative vor. Keller, Bunker und Dunkelkammern können in diesem Sinne Erlösungsräume sein, die Platz für die Neudefinition von Machtstrukturen, für Freiheit und Emotionen lassen. Ein dunkler Raum ermöglicht somit transformative Erfahrungen, bei denen der Blick negiert und das Gefühl von Verletzlichkeit spürbar wird , was zu Überlegungen darüber einlädt, wie eine eingeschränkte Sichtbarkeit paradoxerweise unsere Fähigkeit, in einem umfassenderen, emotionaleren und bewussteren Sinne zu „sehen“, verstärken könnte. Dies wirft folgende Frage auf: Kann Dunkelheit emotionale Nähe fördern und neue Sichtweisen unterstützen?
In contemporary museum spaces, the prevalence of brightly lit spaces – the so-called “white-boxes” – can be jarring when juxtaposed with artworks representing scenes of violence and discrimination. While it is essential to process historical events and give visibility to minority groups, in these contexts, the contrast between the bright environment, the subject matter and reality itself can create a disconnect.
This dissertation explores the tension between brightly lit museum spaces and their representation of challenging political subjects, proposing dark environments as a counter-narrative. Basements, bunkers and darkrooms, in this sense, can be redemption spaces that leave room for redefining power structures, for freedom and emotions. A dark space is thus a fundamental way of facilitating transformative experiences, where the gaze is negated and we all feel vulnerable, inviting considerations of how limited visibility might paradoxically enhance our ability to "see" in a broader, more emotionally and intentional engaged sense – raising the question: can darkness foster emotional proximity and encourage new ways of seeing?
To what extent is sustainable development truly sustainable? In which ways is it different from previous ecological regimes, such as the extractivist practices of XXth century authoritarianisms? How do plans, and models, mediate between different temporalities? What can we learn about our social metabolism by studying climate scenarios as political techniques of government?
'The Nature of Total Planning' tries to answer these question by doing a close reading of the environmental history of La Bizkaia, a godforsaken valley in northern Spain. Historicising La Bizkaia’s social metabolism is the first step for a political and epistemological critique of green capitalism. A broader investigation of Francoist hydropolitics contextualises the pine monoculture as part of a national programme to enrol nature into Franco’s political project. The last section of this thesis compares that model with how La Bizkaia is managed today, under the sustainable development paradigm. While, discursively, sustainable development distances itself from the extractivist practices of fascist autarky, 'The Nature of Total Planning' reveals striking continuities in the material practices of La Bizkaia’s forestry management.
Thursday our HfG online Journal UMBAU will celebrate it's 3rd Issue called CHAINING.
8pm / 18.01.24 / at HfG Forum
There will be a performance by the artist Elle Fierce at 20:30 They are a Trans Non-Binary, British born Jamaican-Irish artist and activist, classically trained in ballet and modern dance, and have performed on stages around the world, particularly in the UK and most recently as a Soloist at Oper Leipzig. Now a freelance artist, with a multi disciplinary approach to performance, combining their activism and life experience as a black trans body to create provocative works.
The event shows artworks by Lucia Mattes and Lars Pinkwart and hosts afterwards DJ sets by aswesome LaLa Tina and our very best Frankie Spiderweb.
Our first contributions feature Mascha Dilger, Matteo Pasquinelli and Ülkü Süngün.
With unchained hearts, your UMBAU Team // Paolo Caffoni, Charlotte Eifler, Yannick Fritz, Jule Köpke & Livia Lazzarini
Thursday our HfG online Journal UMBAU will celebrate it's 3rd Issue called CHAINING.
8pm / 18.01.24 / at HfG Forum
There will be a performance by the artist Elle Fierce at 20:30 They are a Trans Non-Binary, British born Jamaican-Irish artist and activist, classically trained in ballet and modern dance, and have performed on stages around the world, particularly in the UK and most recently as a Soloist at Oper Leipzig. Now a freelance artist, with a multi disciplinary approach to performance, combining their activism and life experience as a black trans body to create provocative works.
The event shows artworks by Lucia Mattes and Lars Pinkwart and hosts afterwards DJ sets by aswesome LaLa Tina and our very best Frankie Spiderweb.
Our first contributions feature Mascha Dilger, Matteo Pasquinelli and Ülkü Süngün.
With unchained hearts, your UMBAU Team // Paolo Caffoni, Charlotte Eifler, Yannick Fritz, Jule Köpke & Livia Lazzarini