Up-to-date texts, themes and artist’s voices from HAU, about HAU
Positions, Projects, Publications
In search of radical mutations
In this essay, author and historian Edna Bonhomme takes a look back at “Radical Mutation: On the Ruins of Rising Suns”. The festival, curated by Nathalie Anguezomo Mba Bikoro, Saskia Köbschall and Tmnit Zere for HAU Hebbel am Ufer, took place from the 23 September to the 4 October at HAU1 and online at HAU4
Fabifa’s Tape Art for HAU
As part of the programme “‘Я выхожу!’ (I’m going out) – Berlin meets Minsk” on the current events in Belarus, Fabifa created this tape art picture for HAU Hebbel am Ufer. The artist from Minsk lives in Berlin and presents her tape art performances at festivals and exhibitions throughout Europe. In Berlin, her works can be seen repeatedly on walls all over the city.
Wir, das Ungarn des Westens (German text)
Paul B. Preciado
Ausgehend von der Verschärfung des Abtreibungsverbots in Polen sowie Ungarns transfeindlichem Entwurf zur Verfassungsänderung beobachtet Paul Preciado, wie innerhalb europäischer demokratischer Institutionen zunehmend neofaschistische Laboratorien entstehen. Charakteristisch hierfür ist die Figur der Leugnung: ob die Leugnung der Existenz des Klimawandels sowie die von den gleichen Akteur:innen betriebenen Leugnung der Existenz von Gender oder auch der eigenen Kolonialgeschichte. Er plädiert daher für einen Aktivismus, der die Ziele der politischen Ökologie gleichzeitig zu den Projekten der Entpatriachalisierung und der institutionellen und sozialen Dekolonisierung verfolgt.
Die Revolutionshypothese (German text)
Paul B. Preciado
“Und was, wenn sich jetzt, inmitten dieser planetarischen Depression, die größte Revolution der Geschichte ereignet?” Ausgehend von dieser Frage formuliert Paul B. Preciado eine “Revolutionshypothese” – als somatopolitische Emanzipationsübung, die als Gegen-Fiktion der aktuell geltenden Epistemologien neue Vorstellungen davon entwirft, was wir aus der Mutation des Virus lernen wollen: Die Frage ist nicht mehr, wer wir sind, sondern was wir werden.
Alles muss sich ändern (German text)
Paul B. Preciado
Nichts wird mehr sein wie vor der Corona-Pandemie, prophezeit Paul B. Preciado und kritisiert damit die Diskurse derer, die sich nach der Rückkehr zu einem “Vorher” sehnen. Durch eine Aufzählung historischer Ereignisse macht er klar, dass ein Zurück zu einem vermeintlich intakten Vorher aus der Sicht der Subalternen absurd erscheint, da für sie jeder historische Moment immer schon durch den Kampf gegen Auslöschung geprägt war. So fordert er, dass die Zeit der nekropolitischen, kolonialen und patriarchalen Politiken aufbricht.
Unacknowledged Loss II
A Project on Mourning and Loss by Barbara Raes & HAU Hebbel am Ufer
During the “Unacknowledged Loss II”, several materials like photos, texts and films were generated that we share now with the public as part of the programme of #HAUonline.
Burning Futures #5: Beyond The End Of The World?
In the fifth podcast edition of the series “Burning Futures”, art theorist T.J. Demos engages in a discussion with Anjalika Sagar and Kodwo Eshun (The Otolith Group) about the conceptual background of their recent film “INFINITY Minus Infinity” in the face of the Corona Crisis and the Black Lives Matter movement and why racial genocide and ecocide are both at the origins of the “Anthropocene”.
The End As Interlude
Episode 3: Interlude / By Jota Mombaça
In the third episode, we accompany The Community member Khalil, who is moving further and further away from the usual earthly existence in space and time. His presence is a dance with indeterminacy.
“Collective Jumps” / “Pieces and Elements” / “Reflection” (German Text)
Zwischen 2014 und 2019 führte Isabelle Schad eine vielschichtige Bewegungsrecherche über kollektive Körper durch, die sich in den drei Werken “Collective Jumps”, “Pieces and Elements” und “Reflection” manifestierte. Lesen Sie hier Interviews mit der Choreografin – gesammelt und ediert von Elena Basteri.
The End As Interlude
Episode 2: Energy Bending / By Jota Mombaça
In the second episode, protagonist Elsi tells of her journey through a dystopian Europe, queer solidarity, and a reunion that turns out differently as planned.
The End As Interlude
Episode 1: The Silent Earthquake / By Jota Mombaça
Based on world events in times of the Corona pandemic, Mombaça conceives a diffuse future, one in which borders, escape and freedom of thought play a central role.
Digitale Logen, leere Stühle und chaotische Räume (German Text)
Über Corona und Theater
In seinem Essay untersucht der Theoretiker, Dramaturg und Autor Georg Döcker den Einfluss der Coronakrise auf das Theater und beschreibt sozio-politische und machttechnologische Verschiebungen hin zur digitalen Theaterloge.
Berlin bleibt! #2: #KeinHausweniger
Werkstatt für die Selbstverwaltung von Berliner Haus- und Kulturprojekten
Spiralling rents don’t just affect residential buildings. Above all, the very existence of numerous alternative city, cultural and house projects is under threat. Here you can read the current demands by key initiatives from the campaign #KeinHausweniger.
Vom Virus lernen (German Text)
Paul B. Preciado
Mitte März erkrankte Paul B. Preciado am Coronavirus. Der Vordenker auf den Gebieten Queer Studies und Philosophie des Körpers schrieb kurz darauf einen Text über das politische Seuchenmanagement von Covid-19. Er diskutiert darin den Begriff der Immunität in seiner politischen und medizinischen Dimension und zeigt auf, wie die über Jahre entwickelten Grenzpolitiken des Ausschlusses nun auf der Ebene des individuellen Körpers zum Einsatz kommen ...
Between Hope and Hopelessness
Between March 15 and 18, HAU originally planned to show “A Melancholic Melody / A Will To An End – A Series of Works by Ligia Lewis”, including Lewis’ recent performance trilogy – “Sorrow Swag,” performed in a saturated blue, “minor matter,” a poetic work illuminated in red, and “Water Will (in Melody),” a gothic tale set in black and white. Unfortunately, this had to be cancelled in order to prevent a rapid spread of the coronavirus. Although it’s not a replacement of the live performance, you can read here an interview with Lewis, first published in Bomb Magazine.
Reflections on the past
Eszter Salamon in conversation
“HETEROCHRONY / Palermo 1599–1920” – a HAU co-production – imagines a continuum between life and death, the cohabitation of the living and the dead.
Gob Squad – Be Part of Something Bigger (German Text)
Im neuen Buch “Gob Squad – What are you looking at?” schreibt Aenne Quiñones über die Anfänge des deutsch-britischen Kollektivs.
Choreographies for non-humans – A conversation with Mette Ingvartsen
By Katleen Van Langendonck & Eva Decaesstecker
The German premiere of “Moving in Concert” by Mette Ingvartsen would have taken place on March 27 during the festival “Spy on Me #2 – Artistic Manoeuvres for the Digital Present”. But due to the coronavirus suspending of the physical programme, the dance piece about a universe where humans, technologies and natural material coexist couldn’t take place at HAU2. Read instead an interview with the choreographer, not only about her latest production.
An Introduction to “Collectivize Facebook”
By Jonas Staal
“Collectivize Facebook” is a lawsuit aimed to turn Facebook into public property, initiated by artist Jonas Staal and lawyer Jan Fermon. Read here Staal’s introduction to the project.
When Cthulhu calls
A text by Thomas Ryckewaert
If everything would have happened as planned, the German premiere of “Move 37” would have taken place during the festival “Spy on Me #2 – Artistic Manoeuvres for the Digital Present”. This would have been the first cooperation between HAU Hebbel am Ufer and the artist and biologist from Antwerp Thomas Ryckewaert. But due to the coronavirus suspending of the physical programme, his theatre performance about the computer programme AlphaGo and phenomena beyond human imagination couldn’t take place at HAU2. Instead, Ryckewaert now shares an essay which was the blueprint for the performance. Here he draws a connection between H.P. Lovecraft‘s creatures and the cool horror of the intelligent machine.
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AcceptIntroduction “Spy on Me #2. Artistic Manoeuvres for the Digital Present – Online Programme”
by Annemie Vanackere, Artistic & Managing Director of HAU Hebbel am Ufer, 19.3.2020
The utopia of cyber freedom is showing its darker side more and more clearly. Because the data that everyone generates every day is used in very different ways – depending, for example, on where you live and how much money you have at your disposal.
An Essay by Frederike Kaltheuner and Nele Obermüller
As we build rivals to human intelligence, James Bridle looks at our relationship with the planet’s other alien consciousnesses.
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“I feel there is a possibility to reverse this history of colonizing the female body and make it speak it out from one’s own voice and experience”
Tümay Kılınçel in conversation with Nora Amin about “Dansöz”
Podcast “Burning Futures: On Ecologies of Existence”
#2 Fossil Economies, Degrowth Ecologie
Welcome to the podcast of the HAU discussion series“Burning Futures: On Ecologies of Existence” – the series on ecological questions and their intersections with political, economical and cultural dimensions.
“Manifestos for Queer Futures” Video Documentation
As part of the festival “The Present Is Not Enough – Performing Queer Histories and Futures”, HAU initiated an open call for artists based in Berlin, who were invited to submit proposals for their Manifestos for Queer Futures. 270 artists replied to the open call, and 26 were selected and will be presented on the stage of HAU2. Now the full video documentation is available online – in the chronological order of the performances.
Podcast “Burning Futures: On Ecologies of Existence. #1 Facing Extinction!”
Welcome to the first edition of “Burning Futures: On Ecologies of Existence” – the podcast. The new discussion series at HAU Hebbel am Ufer looks at the escalating and indeed apocalyptic discourses of the coming end against the background of a growing ecological crisis and asks about opportunities for action. It is initiated and conceived by HAU´s curator for Discourse, Margarita Tsomou, and curated in cooperation with the theorist and dramaturg Maximillian Haas ...
Stonewall Uckermark Radio Show – 10 Audio Pieces
On the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots Tucké Royale, Johannes Maria Schmit and Schuldenberg Films set out through the Uckermark in a motorcade packed with a queer hologram family of 60 participants. In the northeastern periphery, they looked back on and celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots at a safe distance from the big city of Berlin. The audio pieces you can listen to here were played in the participants' car radios. The tracks were positioned in a dramaturgy that mixed them with the landscape flying by in between the stops.
Made Up of Time and Enegry – Notes on choreographic aspects in the work of Nature Theater of Oklahoma by Pieter T’Jonck
In recent years Nature Theater of Oklahoma’s work has taken many different directions but recently they went back to choreography as their main medium. With “No President. A Story Ballet of Enlightenment in two Immoral Acts” they return to HAU.
“First, you rebel, then you cry. Then you smoke a cigarette”
Excerpts from the letters of Nicoleta Esinencu’s mother
After the fall of the Soviet Union, family structures in the Republic of Moldova were faced with great economic challenges and at the same time were restyled into a traditional Christian asset. Nicoleta Esinencu links these circumstances with the experience of losing her parents, examining the term family in the 21st century. This is an excerpt from her mother’s letters to her.
"An Argument against Aboutness"
Ariel Efraim Ashbel talks about his new work “no apocalypse not now”, his poetics and his role as director.
KEEP IT REAL
The writer Luise Meier was commissioned by HAU Hebbel am Ufer to go along with their current film and poster campaign “KEEP IT REAL”.
No more excuses!
Interview with Natasha A. Kelly
When we talk about feminism in Germany, the Black perspective and all its achievements are often left out of the conversation, says author, curator, and filmmaker Natasha A. Kelly. That is why her book “Schwarzer Feminismus” [“Black Feminism”] collects a number of fundamental texts by Black feminists. In this interview, Kelly explains why feminism is not conceivable without also taking racism into consideration, and what Black female authors have achieved from the mid 19th century until today.
The 4 lessons Eastern Europe teaches us about tectonic shifts at global LGBT+ frontlines
On occasion of the festival “The Present Is Not Enough – Performing Queer Histories and Futures” (20.–30.6. im HAU) we ask: Which narratives are still missing when we address queer history and histories? Maxim Eristavi, an openly queer journalist from Ukraine, observes how LGBTIQ* communities expand safe space locally. At the same time, with regard to all of Eastern Europe he has to state: In the age of globalization, digitalization, worldwide waves of migration and transnational hate movements the suppression of LBGTIQ* lives is becoming more and more complex ...
On occasion of the festival “The Present Is Not Enough – Performing Queer Histories and Futures” (20.–30.6. im HAU) we ask: Which narratives are still missing when we address queer history and histories? In Jota Mombaça’s journal entries – less a dystopia than a poetic description of the status quo – the hierarchy of the world above and below materializes.
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The caring gaze of Leviathan, the “pink files” from 1980s Poland, and the issue of privacy.
Before “Hiacynt” the homosexual share of the Polish population was practically invisible to the state. Between 1985 and 1987 extensive police and secret service operations were carried out under this flowery name in order to control the “unknown” share of gay men in the population. Cultural philosopher Ewa Majewska visited the archive and read the files again. In her essay she explains what role the private sphere plays for queers in Poland and what it has to do with state “care”.
“An orchestrated delirium”
Thoughts on “Rolling” by Michael Laub
“‘Rolling’ is like an orchestrated delirium. It’s also totally subjective rather than academic”, says Michael Laub about his latest work. The Belgian theatre maker combines around 200 film quotes with video, theatre, dance and music to create a complex personal reflection on the relation between the fields
Like a chain reaction
Isabelle Schad in conversation
The new work “Reflection” by Isabelle Schad will premiere at HAU at the end of May. The choreographer completes her trilogy about collective bodies with this piece. In the interview she speaks about her research on movements and the stages at HAU1 and HAU2.
