"Re:HUMANIZE"
Dates: 20th September – 12th December 2024
The exhibition "Re:HUMANIZE" aims to be a powerful response to the dehumanizing narratives that often dominate discussions of migration and integration. By bringing together diverse artistic voices, this exhibition seeks to reclaim the humanity of migrants and highlight the deeply personal and varied experiences that define their journeys. Our goal is to shift the conversation from one of abstract legalities and statistics to a more intimate understanding of the individuals behind these terms.
Migration and integration are complex processes that profoundly shape the lives of millions of people around the world, yet current discourse often reduces them to impersonal statistics, legal categories or economic challenges, eliminating the human element. This dehumanization is then often perpetuated through political rhetoric and social attitudes.
“Re:HUMANIZE” aims to challenge these narratives, bringing the conversation back to the individuals involved, recognising their inherent dignity and worth. It is an invitation to see migrants not as ‘others’, but as individuals with stories, emotions and identities that deserve compassion and understanding. Equally, it seeks to re:humanize the people in the neighborhoods and communities who also experience profound changes through the integration process. Their stories, too, are marked by challenges, adaptations, and the potential for deep connection and growth.
To do this, the exhibition is structured around four guiding questions that explore both the personal and collective dimensions of migration and integration:
Am I enough? Am I seen? Do I belong? Who am I?
Questions which invite artists to engage with their own experiences or to interpret the experiences of others, offering a platform for diverse perspectives.
"Re:HUMANIZE" is a celebration of human resilience and a critique of the forces that dehumanize and divide us. Through the power of art, this exhibition seeks to create a space where every individual, regardless of their migratory background, is seen, heard, and valued. It is a step towards building a future where the narratives of migration and integration are defined by compassion, respect, and a deep commitment to human dignity.
To facilitate this transformation, we've curated a set of guiding questions to ignite the dialogue:
What does it mean to feel integrated in a society?
Does art have a role in the process of integration? If so, how?
How can we feel like we are a part of something?
Has your personal experience with migration had an impact on your cultural identity or heritage? If so, how?
What is your story?
Artists:
Arnol Segovia
Matteo Lorusso
Carla Abilés
Dagmar Gester
Dasha Buben
Shahrzad Kaedi Nejad
Yulia Lavrova
Tugcan Dökmen Koch
Nan Zhao
Agatha Fiz
This exhibition was created thanks to the help and work of the Kulturschöpfer team and its volunteers: Christopher Elmerick, Matilde Dani, Antonia Mantey, Hannah Cook, Sonja Schweiger, Norah Brown.
A glimpse of what was happening in the gallery:
