MONUMENTAL SHADOWS – Rethinking Colonial Heritage
(Koloniales Erbe neu denken)
Collaboration by artist-duo Various & Gould and Colonial Neighbours / SAVVY Contemporary.
A participatory project in public space knocking colonial figures off their pedestal and shifting the shadows of past and present.
Even though more and more European countries are beginning to come to terms with their colonial history, deep shadows dominate their commemorative culture. Formerly colonizing and colonized countries are linked by a complex, violent past that reverberates to the present day. The art project “Monumental Shadows” explores commemorative culture and deals with artworks and monuments that continue to inscribe colonial history in public space.
monumental-shadows.net/
–– FILM ––
directed & edited by Frederic Leitzke
filmed by Florian Lampersberger, Frederic Leitzke & Florian Geyer
drone shots by Andreas Jakob (Randomlight)
additional footage by Various & Gould, Daniela Medina Poch
photos by Raisa M. Galofre Cortés
color grading & sound mix by Frederic Leitzke
produced by editude pictures
voice overs by Billy Fowo, Various & Gould, Daniela Medina Poch, Anna Jäger & Jumọke Adeyanju
music by
Music from the album LEVITATION
(Qilin Records, QILIN011)
composed and played by
Stefan Rusconi (church organ)
& Tobias Preisig (violin)
Delawhere - Silver Things Break
–– PROJECT ––
The Berlin chapter of “Monumental Shadows – Rethinking Colonial Heritage” is an artistic exploration of Germany’s colonial heritage and current culture of remembrance. The project took place from August to the end of October 2021 in Berlin and was divided into four parts, so-called “Shadows”. In different formats, the participating artists* and speakers* have questioned the effects of colonialism to the present day.
The starting point is the experience that German colonialism is often played down in public discourse. It thus lies in the shadows for many people and at the same time casts a long shadow over the lives of many.
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Das Berliner Kapitel von „Monumental Shadows – Koloniales Erbe neu denken“ ist eine künstlerische Auseinandersetzung mit dem kolonialen Erbe und der aktuellen Erinnerungskultur Deutschlands. Das Projekt wurde von August bis Ende Oktober 2021 in Berlin durchgeführt und gliederte sich in vier Teile, sogenannte „Shadows“. In verschiedenen Formaten haben die teilnehmenden Künstler*innen und Sprecher*innen hinterfragt, welche Spuren und Auswirkungen des Kolonialismus es bis zum heutigen Tag gibt.
Ausgangspunkt ist die Erfahrung, dass der deutsche Kolonialismus im öffentlichen Diskurs häufig verharmlost wird. Er liegt somit für viele Menschen im Schatten und wirft gleichzeitig einen langen Schatten auf die Leben vieler.
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MONUMENTAL SHADOWS
Rethinking Colonial Heritage
A project by Various & Gould in collaboration with Colonial Neighbours (SAVVY Contemporary)
Funded by
Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und
Europa des Landes Berlin /
Berliner Projektfonds Urbane Praxis
Part of
DRAUSSENSTADT
Support
Zapf Umzüge
Team
Artistic Direction
Various & Gould
Curation
Lynhan Balatbat-Helbock
Project Management
Britt Janina Heinker
Curatorial Assistance
Lili Somogyi, Antonio Pedro Mendes
Communication
Anna Jäger
Design
Juan Pablo García Sossa
Accessibility
Annika Hirsekorn
Simple Language
Christina Stark, Duygu Özen
Photo Documentation
Raisa M. Galofre Cortés
Management
Lema Sikod
Shadow #1 – Intervention
Artists
Various & Gould
Additional Artistic Intervention
“Das Zentrum von Gestern,
die Splitter von Heute”:
Daniela Medina Poch
& Juan Pablo García Sossa
Production Assistance
Billy Fowo, Sagal Farah, Jörg-Peter Schulze, Alina Kologriwaja, Ahmed Isam Aldin, Mohamedali Ltaief & Sh. M. Mudassir
Information Team
Lili Somogyi, Lia Milanese, Lynhan Balatbat-Helbock, Sagal Farah, Georg Zolchow & Karen Heinze
DGS
Ina Peters
Rampe
KOPF, HAND + FUSS gGmbH
Shadow #2 – Performance
Concept
Thomias Radin
Performers
Natisa Exocée Kasongo
Jumọke Adeyanju (Sensi.Dance)
Thomias Radin (Sensi.Dance)
Sound Artist
Delawhere
