Original Exhibition Title: CLUBS der ZUKUNFT. Gemeinsame Räume in Übergangsgesellschaften Germany Berlin 2024 54 German, English English, German

In a nutshell

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?

CLUBS of the FUTURE is a compelling exhibition that explores the significance of communal spaces and collective practices, particularly in light of the legacy of the GDR’s Houses of Culture. By addressing the societal gaps left by their closure, the project invites reflection on how shared spaces can foster collaboration and social cohesion in a time of increasing individualism. With diverse artistic practices, including innovative workshops, installations, and performances, the exhibition engages with contemporary issues such as the rise of right-wing extremism and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It highlights community-centric projects that inspire collective action and offers a hopeful vision for sustainable, inclusive futures through art.

Curators(s)

Dorothee Albrecht

BioDorothee Albrecht explores social, political, and artistic spaces, opened up by the radical global transformations of recent times. With different artistic formats, especially video platforms and spatial installations, arranged as continuing changing and broadening, she tries to make the complexity of these new potentialities graspable. Questioning conventional frameworks and hierarchies she is especially interested in relations between different cultural perspectives and their mutual dependencies.

Artist(s)

Dmitry Vilensky

BioDmitry Vilensky, born in 1964 in St. Petersburg, is an influential artist, educator, and cultural environmentalist whose work emphasizes collective practices. As a founding member of Chto Delat (What is to be done?), he serves as its editor and facilitates the School of Engaged Art, fostering a dialogue between art and social engagement. His diverse oeuvre includes architectural constructions, educational seminars, and photographic works, which reflect his commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration. Vilensky is also an active contributor to art publications and lectures at various international art academies, furthering the discourse on art’s role in societal transformation.

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