Politics of Sharing: On Collective Wisdom

Every exhibition is a collectively shared form of an ideal, intellectual, public “mental” space, bringing together co-authors, points of reference, and forms of knowledge. This provisional map is a constant negotiation between discussion partners with their mappings of time and space, reflecting their individual realities. As a presentation, an exhibition allows public access to its makers’ latest editorial decisions, final data-rendering and temporary design structure. What happens when it is born as an idea in one hemisphere and moved to another? How does it become an ongoing exhibition process starting with a research visit, an exchange of artist residencies, and experimental open studios? Under what conditions can an exhibition continue developing content internationally along with local cultural codes? What happens to this cultural context, intellectual climate and everyday realities and how can these communicate with diverse audiences?

In Politics of Sharing an antipodean perspective crosses with a Continental/European approach to create a trilogy of exhibitions with unfolding content in three phases: Berlin, Stuttgart and Auckland, focusing on the reflections, and understandings of collective wisdom. Employing artist residencies as research generators, deploying open studios as a way of public broadcast and community engagement, and publishing political controversies and culturally sensitive issues, this multilayered and multi-venue exhibition project, Politics of Sharing invites Germany and New Zealand/Aotearoa into an enquiry. As a limited economy or a confined ecology of how we subconsciously decide on what to share, and with whom, the exhibition emerges from a research visit, to a shared mental space at the closing of its last episode.

As we look at the same sky we literally share the same air. The European form of handshake, which might be taken as a reciprocal declaration of solidarity, is here replaced by the hongi—a customary touching of noses—which defines the exchange of the breath we share. Maori cosmogonic creation narratives also focus on the notion of sharing, by looking at the relationship between Ranginui (Sky Father), and Papatuanuku (Earth Mother), who open up the space between them, for an ever-spiralling cycle of creative potential. The complexities of the human condition are explained through the multitude of their offspring. The cultural understanding of whakapapa—genealogy—which literally translates as making layers upon the earth, shows itself socio-economically in culturally specific aspects of landownership, property and organisation of public space.

Learning from the unique cultural context of New Zealand/Aotearoa, and being experienced with Germany’s long history of traveling exhibitions, this collaboration between Artspace and ifa galleries intends to reactivate the act of sharing. With the active engagement of Yogyakarta based collective KUNCI within the exhibition program, ifa’s Berlin gallery operates as an artist studio, radio station and an extension of the public space prior to the exhibition’s opening. The Berlin and Stuttgart based installations will include commissioned works from Lonnie Hutchinson, Daniel Maier-Reimer, Peter Robinson, and Kalisolaite ‘Uhila as well as recent works by Gabriel Rossell-Santillán and Natalie Robertson.

Wednesday, June 1, 7pm, ifa-Galerie Berlin “The End of Contemporary Art (as we know it)”: Lecture by Marion von Osten, Berline

Friday, June 3, 4pm, ifa-Galerie Berlin  Curatorial tour and artist talk with: Daniel Maier-Reimer and Syafiatudina (KUNCI), Peter Robinson, Gabriel Rossell-Santillán and Kalisolaite ‘Uhila moderated by Elke aus dem Moore (ifa) and Misal Adnan Yildiz (Artspace NZ Auckland) Performance by Kalisolaite ‘Uhila

Friday, July 8, 7.30 pm ZK/U, Moabit “Shared experiences of some micro-histories/Sharing: With and against and for” Film programme, curated by Madeleine Bernstorff

Including documentation material from Radio Kunci and film program, “Imaginary Date Line” (with works from Pilimi Manu, Jeremy Leatinu’u, Darcell Apelu, Vea Mafile’o, Shannon Te Ao, Rik Wilson, Janet Lilo and Nova Paul; produced by Artspace NZ)