The thematic exhibition Family Matters explores family memories in the migration society and their links to socio-political and historical issues that manifest themselves both locally and globally. It brings together ten contemporary (post-)migrant positions that take personal family stories as the starting point for their artworks. All ten are united by the approach of casting a spotlight on personal archives and thus formulating questions about the past for the future.
The works on display address individual and collective experiences ranging from colonial exploitation and political upheaval to questions of migration and assimilation policies. Stories of resilience and strategies of taking up space become visible. For example, Sajan Mani (*1981 Kannur/India) places his family, who lived from rubber tapping, and the Dalit community at the centre of his artistic exploration. By using natural rubber, he sheds light on extractive colonialism and creates a counter-narrative to the colonial gaze to which his ancestors were exposed. Beatrice Moumdjian (*1986 Sofia, Bulgaria), on the other hand, addresses events of the 20th century in Europe, including the Armenian Genocide, socialist totalitarianism in Bulgaria and the GDR, migration and the fall of communism, which she recounts using details from family photos in her family album.
The polyphonic and open narrative of the artists and the accompanying participatory mediation programme aims to encourage the public to view history in multiple dimensions and to relate to it. The accompanying programme includes artist tours of the exhibition, commented screenings, panels and performances that take a closer look at the political background of the works.
The exhibition presents works by James Gregory Atkinson, Ahu Dural, Nilbar Güreş, Emily Hass, Magda Korsinsky, Sajan Mani, Beatrice Moumdjian, Farila Neshat, Karoline Schneider, and Irina Unruh.
Family Matters is the programme conclusion of MdbK [in transit] as part of the 360° Fund for New City Cultures of the German Federal Cultural Foundation and is funded by: Kulturstiftung des Bundes 360°; Stiftung Erlebnis Kunst, Kulturreferat der Russlanddeutschen; Stiftung für das sorbische Volk
Openung: 18.06.2025, 18 h
