Can the Earth think? What may sound like an abstract question, posed by Swiss artist duo Fischli & Weiss, will be taken literally at the Humboldt Forum at the end of October, and rightly so. “99 Questions – On the Poetics of Loose Ends” is the title of the eight-day hybrid event combining a conference, symposium and exhibition, exploring cosmology, technology and diverse knowledge systems through art, workshops and discussions. The reappraisal of colonial history and the expansion of local perspectives to a global context are just some of the approaches aimed at radically rethinking the concept of the museum. From 25.10. to 02.11.2024, artists, weavers and thinkers from around the world will gather for this expansive program. “Textiles Semillas,” a feminist weaving project from northern Argentina, connects over 300 weavers and creates space for exchanging traditional techniques and activism. “South-to-South” builds bridges between Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo to explore African and Afro-diasporic technologies. Sarah Ndele presents her multimedia installation “Tell Me the Story”, in which she melts plastic into expressive masks, reinterpreting African narrative traditions. The entire event is rounded out with workshops, performances, talks and interactive sessions. For example, participate in the collaborative textile installation “La Crecida,” learn traditional weaving techniques, or combine weaving with digital storytelling in the workshop “Unflexible Code / Flexible Threads.” The events are free of charge and open to all. They will be held in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The full program can be found here.
Text: Alina Herbel / Credit: Alina Bardavid; Dzata: The Institute of Technological Consciousness (2022-2023). Russel Hlongwane, Francois Knoetze, Amy Louise Wilson
Humboldt Forum, Schloßpl.1, 10178 Berlin–Mitte; map
On the Poetics of Loose Ends – 99 Questions Gathering 25.10.–02.11.2024
@humboldtforum
