Ever since Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, founder and former artistic director of Savvy Contemporary, assumed the directorship of the Haus der Kulturen der Welt, one of the most iconic buildings in Tiergarten, the venue has become one of Berlin’s most dynamic and multifaceted cultural spaces. The current research and exhibition project, Forgive Us Our Trespasses / Vergib uns unsere Schuld – On (Un)Real Boundaries, (Im)Morality, and Other Transgressions, invites artists, scholars, activists and visitors to reflect on various forms of transgression — religious, social, class, national, sexual, disciplinary and beyond. Against the backdrop of contemporary and historical migration patterns, the group exhibition brings together a range of perspectives, some sensual and intuitive, others complex and controversial, spanning various genres. The artworks engage with urgent and relevant issues while maintaining a strong connection to the sensuality inherent in art.
For instance, Ahmet Öğüt’s multi-channel video installation on hidden mosques in Berlin, Tanja Ostojić’s delicate embroidered calendar — a testament to her regular swims in the city’s lakes and her experience of menopause — and Leiko Ikemura’s vibrant painting of a wild spider-like creature, symbolizing untamed femininity, all exemplify how the works offer sensory engagement and intellectual depth. These pieces illuminate how boundaries are crossed and challenge our notions of guilt, morality and freedom.
Text: Alina Herbel / Photos: Malte Seidel & HKW
Haus der Kulturen der Welt, John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, 10557 Berlin–Tiergarten; map
Forgive Us Our Trespasses until 08.12.2024. You can find the program here.
@hkw_berlin
