graduated from HMKW University of Applied Science, Berlin - Visual and Media Anthropology (MA) with the thesis titled “A Palace and Protest in Berlin for the Whole World: The Coalition of Cultural Workers Against the Humboldt Forum and the Challenge of Decolonization”, supervised by Dr. Mark Curran. Over a 2-year period, he observed the Coalition of Cultural Workers Against the Humboldt Forum, Barazani Berlin & other protest groups. This thesis examines the struggle of the decolonization of the art & cultural institutions, focusing on the example of newly built the Humboldt Forum. Thesis consists of a written text and three movies. “Tear It Down” shows the dynamics of a protest movement in a chronologic timeline with his fieldnotes. “Museal – The Story of Dying Museums” takes the main research question and breaks into more questions in order to clarify the deepness of the colonial problem. “Skating on the Ruins of the History” discusses the controversial history of the site over a skatepark located in Tempelhofer Feld.
A PALACE AND PROTEST IN BERLIN FOR THE WHOLE WORLD:
THE COALITION OF CULTURAL WORKERS AGAINST THE HUMBOLDT FORUM AND THE CHALLENGE OF DECOLONIZATION
Abstract: This research focuses on how a protest group, the Coalition of Cultural Workers Against the Humboldt Forum, creates their audiovisual narrative in order to challenge a controversial institution. As an example of a museum with a colonial collection, the Humboldt Forum is at the center of decolonization debates. This attempt carries within and outside of the institution. The research explores these decolonization attempts by tracing the controversial layers that were the subject of protests.
READ THE THESIS
"Tear It Down" takes its name from the Coalition of Cultaral Workers Against the Humboldt Forum's most striking slogan: "Tear it down and turn it upside down!" Composed of video recordings (more than 6 hours) from four protests the group organized against the Humboldt Forum over the course of a year, the film examines how a protest movement functions. Protest dates and titles:
+ December 16, 2020, "Dead on Arrival – Second Rehearsal (feat. Tear-Down-Ensemble)"
+ July 19, 2021, "Defund the Humboldt Forum!" screening
+ July 20, 2021, "Defund the Humboldt Forum"
+ September 22, 2021, "Looking at Looted Art Again?"
"Skating on the Ruins of History" aims to demonstrate that the remains of a demolished historical structure still survive in a different location, under different conditions, and for a different purpose. Located in Tempelhof Park, the Vogelfreiheit skatepark brings together two historic Berlin landmarks: Tempelhof Airport and the Palast der Republik. A group of young skateboarders worked on the design and construction of this project, led by Adam Sello and Robert Merk. Dozens of skateboarders visit daily, unaware of the history of the granite blocks they skate on.
The replica of the Berlin Palace, reincarnated as the Humboldt Forum, is one of the best examples of a museum transformed into a museal. This film is a collage of photographs taken during my visit to the Humboldt Forum (on 17.11.2021) and the questions I sought to answer not as a researcher but as a museologist.
Photos from the protests
+ December 16, 2020, "Dead on Arrival – Second Rehearsal”
+ July 20, 2021, "Defund the Humboldt Forum"
+ September 22, 2021, "Looking at Looted Art Again?"
December 16, 2020, "Dead on Arrival – Second Rehearsal”
December 16, 2020, "Dead on Arrival – Second Rehearsal”
December 16, 2020, "Dead on Arrival – Second Rehearsal”
December 16, 2020, "Dead on Arrival – Second Rehearsal”
December 16, 2020, "Dead on Arrival – Second Rehearsal”
December 16, 2020, "Dead on Arrival – Second Rehearsal”
December 16, 2020, "Dead on Arrival – Second Rehearsal”
July 20, 2021, "Defund the Humboldt Forum"
July 20, 2021, "Defund the Humboldt Forum"
July 20, 2021, "Defund the Humboldt Forum"
July 20, 2021, "Defund the Humboldt Forum"
July 20, 2021, "Defund the Humboldt Forum"
July 20, 2021, "Defund the Humboldt Forum"
July 20, 2021, "Defund the Humboldt Forum"
July 20, 2021, "Defund the Humboldt Forum"
September 22, 2021, "Looking at Looted Art Again?"
September 22, 2021, "Looking at Looted Art Again?"
September 22, 2021, "Looking at Looted Art Again?"
September 22, 2021, "Looking at Looted Art Again?"
September 22, 2021, "Looking at Looted Art Again?"
September 22, 2021, "Looking at Looted Art Again?"
September 22, 2021, "Looking at Looted Art Again?"
September 22, 2021, "Looking at Looted Art Again?"
Exhibited at
+ Intimacies: a movement from “distance” on October 20, 2022 at Flutgraben
collage by me
After the publication of my thesis, I reworked the six hours of protest footage into a new film:
The Chronicles of the Humboldt Forum Protests:
posters, banners, slogans, performances, speeches
funded by Affects and Colonialism Lab
