Actually, the Dead Are Not Dead. Una forma de ser. | Introduction
Germany
Stuttgart
2020
The exhibition explores the interplay between celebration and political expression, rooted in the context of marginalized communities. Drawing inspiration from the Bergen Assembly 2019, this exhibition examines how festivities serve as platforms for social emancipation and self-determination, particularly within the Rom*nja, Flamenco, and Bohemian cultures since the 19th century. By interweaving historical and contemporary works, the exhibition highlights the transformative power of communal gatherings, where joy, rebellion, and artistic innovation intertwine. Una forma de ser invites visitors to reflect on the significance of togetherness, creativity, and resilience in the face of adversity.
Why should you watch this?
Maya Schweizer – Voices
Germany
Munich
2020
43
Human perception of time often resembles a collage — fragmented and layered, shaped by memory and experience. Berlin-based artist Maya Schweizer captures this complexity through her unique language of short film. In her work, everyday spaces become carriers of memory, interweaving found footage, situational observations, and soundscapes to create immersive, multifaceted narratives. Schweizer’s art subtly explores the intricacies of cultural identity and the role individuals play as political actors, encouraging deeper reflection on how we engage with our surroundings and their embedded histories. In her solo exhibition Stimmen (Voices) at the Museum Villa Stuck, composed of 10 films spanning the past 14 years, Schweizer gives voice to those who have disappeared, recounting stories of violence, memory, and loss, particularly within the context of German history and Munich’s past. By blending personal and collective histories, her work oscillates between documentation and staged reality, using urban spaces as laboratories for examining overlapping historical layers. As viewers dive into the culture of remembrance, Schweizer uncovers new and often unsettling depths of human memory, sparking a reflection on the invisible ties between people, places, and their histories.
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TIME FOR OUTRAGE! Art in Times of Social Anger | Protest
Germany
Dusseldorf
2020
24
Can anger and rage be justified in a world riddled with oppression and inequality? Are these emotions destructive forces or vital catalysts for social change? As democracy faces crises and populism gains ground globally, these questions have sparked renewed debate. Contemporary artists have responded, using their work to navigate and challenge the pressing issues of our time. The exhibition Time for Outrage! in Düsseldorf explores these questions through six thematic blocks: Right-wing Shift, Trumpism, Protest, Postcolonialism, Feminism, and Discrimination. Across a diverse range of mediums — including installations, drawings, paintings, sculptures, photography, and video art — 40 international artists immerse viewers in the visceral realms of protest, social dissent, and public anger. The exhibition doesn’t just present anger as a raw emotion; it portrays it as a vehicle for dialogue, resistance, and empowerment in the face of systemic injustice.
Why should you watch this?
TIME FOR OUTRAGE! Art in Times of Social Anger | Discrimination
Germany
Dusseldorf
2020
24
Can anger and rage be justified in a world riddled with oppression and inequality? Are these emotions destructive forces or vital catalysts for social change? As democracy faces crises and populism gains ground globally, these questions have sparked renewed debate. Contemporary artists have responded, using their work to navigate and challenge the pressing issues of our time.
The exhibition ‘Time for Outrage!’ in Düsseldorf explores these questions through six thematic blocks: Right-wing Shift, Trumpism, Protest, Postcolonialism, Feminism, and Discrimination. Across a diverse range of mediums — including installations, drawings, paintings, sculptures, photography, and video art — 40 international artists immerse viewers in the visceral realms of protest, social dissent, and public anger. The exhibition doesn’t just present anger as a raw emotion; it portrays it as a vehicle for dialogue, resistance, and empowerment in the face of systemic injustice.
A substantial portion of the works on display come from the collection of entrepreneur and collector Florian Peters-Messer, whose commitment to socially engaged art amplifies the urgent messages these pieces convey.
Why should you watch this?
TIME FOR OUTRAGE! Art in Times of Social Anger | Introduction
Germany
Dusseldorf
2020
27
Can anger and rage be justified in a world riddled with oppression and inequality? Are these emotions destructive forces or vital catalysts for social change? As democracy faces crises and populism gains ground globally, these questions have sparked renewed debate. Contemporary artists have responded, using their work to navigate and challenge the pressing issues of our time.
The exhibition ‘Time for Outrage!’ in Düsseldorf explores these questions through six thematic blocks: Right-wing Shift, Trumpism, Protest, Postcolonialism, Feminism, and Discrimination. Across a diverse range of mediums — including installations, drawings, paintings, sculptures, photography, and video art — 40 international artists immerse viewers in the visceral realms of protest, social dissent, and public anger. The exhibition doesn’t just present anger as a raw emotion; it portrays it as a vehicle for dialogue, resistance, and empowerment in the face of systemic injustice.
A substantial portion of the works on display come from the collection of entrepreneur and collector Florian Peters-Messer, whose commitment to socially engaged art amplifies the urgent messages these pieces convey.
Why should you watch this?
CLUBS of the FUTURE. Common Spaces in Transitional Societies
Germany
Berlin
2024
54
CLUBS of the FUTURE explores the legacy of communal spaces, particularly the Houses of Culture across Europe and the former GDR, as it reflects on contemporary practices of collectivity and reform. Emerging from research into the 1,800 GDR Houses of Culture—two-thirds of which were closed post-reunification—the project addresses the societal gaps exploited by right-wing groups. Featuring innovative workshop formats, the exhibition includes Ina Wudtke’s video Greif zur Feder (Grab a Pen), Andrea Pichl’s Klub Zukunft (Future Club), and Ming Wong’s KONTAKTHOPE. Highlighting future-oriented projects, it also showcases garden initiatives like Katya Gardea Browne’s A Floating Garden & Exchange of Seeds, emphasizing the ongoing negotiation of shared civic spaces in times of transition. More at https://www.clubsofthefuture.net/
Why should you watch this?
Notes from the Underground. Art and Alternative Music in Eastern Europe 1968-1994
Germany
Berlin
2018
56
The exhibition Notes from the Underground. Art and Alternative Music in Eastern Europe 1968–1994 examines the intersection of underground music and visual arts under communist regimes in Eastern Europe. It highlights how rock, punk, and new wave music, alongside performance art, fashion, and film, became tools of countercultural expression against state control. In response to censorship and scarcity, artists and musicians created homemade instruments, produced Samizdat magazines, and distributed recordings. The exhibition underscores the role of improvisation and irony in resisting authoritarianism, with works from Poland, Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union, and Czechoslovakia, offering a new perspective on how art and music intertwined as forms of dissent.
Why should you watch this?
In a time where freedom of expression remains a contested issue, Notes from the Underground. Art and Alternative Music in Eastern Europe 1968–1994 draws vital parallels between past and present struggles against authoritarianism. By showcasing how rock, punk, and new wave music intertwined with visual arts to resist state control, the exhibition highlights the subversive power of creativity. From DIY instruments to Samizdat magazines, it captures the spirit of rebellion and improvisation that thrived under repressive regimes, making it a timely exploration of art’s role in confronting oppression and fueling collective resistance.
Katrin Nenasheva. Between Here and There: Stories of City Isolations
Russia
Moscow
2017
50
Between Here and There: Stories of Urban Isolation is an exhibition by Katrin Nenasheva that explores the lives of individuals permanently isolated in psychiatric institutions. In her performance, Nenasheva traversed city streets wearing virtual reality glasses displaying panoramic images from these institutions, highlighting the barriers that separate their world from ours. She engaged with the public in various locations, including the subway and Red Square, inviting them to experience her perspective and share the motivations behind her work. The exhibition presents documentation of her journey, allowing visitors to engage with virtual reality themselves, fostering a dialogue between “here” and “there.” This immersive experience encourages reflection on societal isolation and connection.
Why should you watch this?
Katrin Nenasheva’s exhibition Between Here and There: Stories of Urban Isolation offers a profound exploration of the often-overlooked lives of individuals in psychiatric institutions. By donning virtual reality glasses that display panoramic views of these spaces, Nenasheva creates a striking connection between the isolated and the public, inviting visitors to step into her shoes as she navigates familiar urban landscapes. This immersive performance, paired with documentation of her interactions in locations like the subway and Red Square, blurs the lines between separation and engagement. Through this unique experience, attendees are encouraged to confront their perceptions of mental health, societal isolation, and human connection, prompting vital conversations about empathy and understanding in our communities.
![Tobias Zielony. Maskirovka [Concealment]](https://cloud.excours.io/film-previews/tobias-zielony.gif "Tobias Zielony. Maskirovka [Concealment]")
Tobias Zielony. Maskirovka [Concealment]
Germany
Berlin
2018
37
Why should you watch this?
Tobias Zielony’s “Maskirovka” is a compelling reflection on the resilience and creativity of Kyiv’s queer techno scene, resonating profoundly in today’s world marked by social and political upheaval. Set against the backdrop of the post-Maidan era, this exhibition underscores the ongoing struggle for identity and belonging in the face of repression and misinformation, themes that echo in various global contexts today. By employing the concept of “maskirovka”—a tactic of deception used in conflict—Zielony captures how both artists and activists navigate the complexities of expression and resistance. His photographs and dynamic animated film form a visual narrative that invites critical reflection on the intersection of culture, politics, and personal agency. As societies grapple with fragmentation and polarization, “Maskirovka” reminds us of the power of art to forge connections, challenge norms, and provoke dialogue, making it an essential commentary on contemporary struggles for freedom.