Join us for an exclusive screening of “The Art of Living in Danger” by Mina Keshavarz, taking place on March 17th at 7 pm at the Akademie der Künste. This event is a highlight of the vibrant and diverse cultural experience awaiting attendees in Berlin this spring.

“The Art of Living in Danger” not only showcases Mina Keshavarz’s compelling storytelling but also offers insights into broader societal issues, making it a must-see. The screening is part of a rich program running from March 1st to April 1st, where JUNGE AKADEMIE scholarship holders unveil an array of artistic expressions through concerts, readings, workshops, film screenings, and performances.

For more details on the event and to plan your visit, please refer to Akademie der Künste’s website.

Come see the AKS collective’s performance and Maryam Katan’s screening at Apartment Project at 19:45.

“On the Verge” (25 Min) by AKS (Gizem Akman, likabari, Nour Sokhon, Selda Asal) and screening of “Tactics of Desire: A Perscription for the Explorer, the etkinFisherman, the Fish” (2022, 7 min) by Maryam Katan.

In the improvisational performance «On the Verge», AKS focuses on individuals’ moments, meeting points and the ways they express themselves in relationship to ‹home› through various media. Referring to the concept of ‹flu›, which in Turkish, Arabic and Persian stands for a faded, unclear, indistinct image (derived from the Latin word ‹flavus›), the exhibition features new works every three weeks that inspire each other.

By re-animating a personal narrative, «Tactics of Desire: A Perscription for the Explorer, the Fisherman, the Fish» attempts to reveal the touristic gaze and various layers of exploitative relations between the guest and the host, human and non-human. At the same time, the video by Maryam Katan questions the urge for taxonomy and systematic knowledge about nature.

The Musician Pinar Tatlikazan has released her new Album “Pina Berlin”!
Product of 4 years of hard work, the album is produced by Fico Jessen and includes 13 songs. Listen the full album on Spotify.


Pinar Tatlikazan is a singer, songwriter, and architect. Born in Bursa, Turkey she moved to Berlin in 2010 where she started her music projects and wrote her master’s thesis on the connection between aural and visual perception. She participated in workshops and classes of renowned musicians in Berlin and during her semester in Amherst, Massachusetts.

“The waters you touched, now turned to concrete” is the second exhibition by EIGENHEIM Weimar/Berlin at HAUNT Berlin. The exhibition’s title is poetic yet versatile, and it takes us on a journey through the three different artistic positions of Gökçen Dilek Acay, Nina Röder, and Anna Bittersohl. Water, which symbolizes life, movement, and malleability, is either halted or transformed into concrete through touch. Whether this can be interpreted as a metaphor for the artistic production process or as a warning against human destruction of the environment remains an open question – and that is a positive aspect as the three artists’ approaches differ in both content and form.

Location HAUNT Berlin, Kluckstraße 23A, 10785 Berlin-Tiergarten
Opening 24.11.2023, 5 pm – 9 pm, from 7 pm guided tour through the exhibition with the artists present.
Duration 24.11. – 16.12.2023
Finissage 16.12. from 5 p.m. guided tour by the curators followed by a performance
Opening hours Wed. – Sat. 2 to 6 pm
Participating artists Gökçen Dilek Acay, Anna Bittersohl, Nina Röder

Explore ‘Flu’ Exhibition at Apartment Project Kulturverein e.V.!

Join us from November 4th, featuring remarkable artists Asli Dinc, Sifa Girinci, Maria Kassab, Mina Mohsani, Ece Gökalp, and an incredible Vernissage & Performance by AKS Collective and Raha Faridi on December 7th and the performance of Funke Collective on the 29th of January!

Don’t miss this experience open from Wednesdays to Saturdays, 4-7 PM until January 29th, 2024.

We are excited to announce our upcoming event, and we want you to be a part of it! We have reserved the Apartment Project for a series of WAWA Screening Days, set to take place on the following dates:

  October 16th, 17th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th and 26th.

  Time: 13:00 – 18:00

  We will be showcasing previous interviews, providing a wonderful opportunity to revisit and celebrate the incredible stories and talents within our community. Simultaneously, we will be conducting interviews with our new members, allowing us to get to know them better and share their unique voices. We aim to create an open and welcoming space for everyone, so besides enjoying the interviews, you’ll have the chance to meet new contacts and engage with an enthusiastic audience.

  The screenings will be an immersive experience, as we project the interviews onto the curtains in all three windows of Apartment Project. Our new WAWA promotional film will be displayed on the hanging LCD screen in the fourth window.

  Join us for these engaging and inspiring days as we celebrate the diversity and creativity of our community. Let’s come together, share stories, forge new connections, and make these days a memorable experience for all.

Chicheka Lullaby is the story of a musician, omitted from society, who inspired a generation with songs of freedom and love. The film opens up a window to the south of Iran, showing the people’s culture and lifestyle.

Raha Faridi (born 1980) is an experimental artist, filmmaker, radio producer, and storyteller. Her work spans anthropology, music, gender equality, arts, and culture since 2000. For over a decade, she uncovered Iran’s underground music scene at BBC World service Radio. In 2009, she ventured across Iran, creating independent documentaries. In 2022, she began working as a freelance artist in Berlin. Her interdisciplinary work explores urban and intellectual themes in a serious yet playful manner.

Date and Time: Friday, October 6, 2023
19:00-21:15
Running time: 97 min + After Talk with the director

Address: Villa Kuriosum
Scheffelstraße 21, 10367 Berlin
Directions: S-Bahn Storkowerstr.
o. S Frankfurter Allee, U5, M21, M13, M16

On October 2, 2023, Women Artists of Berlin (WAWA) gathered at the Apartment Project in Neukölln for their much-anticipated fall gathering, and it was a night filled with art, good company, and inspiration.
The fall gathering was not just a celebration but also an opportunity to welcome new artists into the WAWA network. One of the highlights of the evening was catching up with personal and professional updates from the members. As artists, they shared their latest works, projects, and achievements.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the artists and attendees who made this evening truly special. Stay tuned for more exciting events and collaborations from WAWA as we continue to celebrate the incredible artists who call Berlin home.
Join us in our mission to champion women+ artists in Berlin and beyond. Together, we can create a more inclusive and diverse art world.

The Centre d’art Madeleine Lambert, Vénissieux presents Ceren Oykut’s first solo exhibition in France. The exhibition will be open from September 16 to November 18, 2023. Guided tour will take place in the presence of the artist on Saturday, September 16 at 3 p.m. as part of the European Heritage Days. The exhibition is a remarkable opportunity to witness her work up close and personal.

For more information: https://culture.venissieux.fr/agenda/exposition-ceren-oykut/

The exhibition ‘Circumstance,’ featuring the artworks of Selen Solak and Seda Mimaroğlu, was held at Periode from September 1st to September 17th, 2023. As a noteworthy component of the exhibition, an impressive live performance was executed on September 16th, showcasing the collaborative talents of Seda Mimaroğlu and Andreas Reihse.

Date: 16.09 Saturday
Time: 6 pm
Location: Periode, Leipziger Str. 61

The WAWA team was delighted to host an unforgettable picnic at Kunstraum Kreuzberg as part of the Beyond Home exhibition. The event provided a valuable opportunity for our team, WAWA members, and friends to come together for a day of relaxation and camaraderie. The picnic took place amidst the tranquil and green surroundings of Kunstraum Kreuzberg, creating a serene atmosphere for all attendees to enjoy. As we gathered for some quality time, meaningful conversations and connections were fostered, contributing to a sense of unity among the participants.

Beyond the enjoyment of the picnic, the event offered a platform for the participants to interact on a personal level, strengthening relationships and building rapport. Nurturing these connections is an integral aspect of our values, and the picnic proved to be a valuable occasion for achieving this goal.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all who attended, contributing to this memorable picnic- their presence and participation made a significant difference, and we are grateful for the opportunity to have shared this experience.

The picnic gathering at Kunstraum Kreuzberg emphasized the importance of nurturing relationships, fostering a sense of community, and creating lasting memories together. As we reflect on this event, we are reminded of the value of coming together.

Time: Saturday 22.07.2023, 15.00
Location: Kunstraum Kreuzberg/ Bethanien
Mariannenplatz 2, 10997 Berlin

“Beyond Home,” an exhibition curated by Selda Asal, Şirin Fulya Erensoy, and Özlem Sarıyıldız at Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien, unveils a thought-provoking exploration of the concept of home. Supported by the Hauptstadtkulturfonds and the Senate Department for Culture and Europe, this multifaceted project encompasses four distinct elements: an exhibition, a trailer, the Women+ Artists’ Web Archive presentation, and a zine. Delving into the complex and contradictory meanings of home, it aims to dismantle the patriarchal impositions historically associated with the notion of home.

Women artists hailing from countries like Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, and Belarus participate in the project, all of whom have recently migrated to Berlin from occupied territories and conflict zones. Drawing inspiration from Sara Ahmed’s concept of the “feminist killjoy,” the project critically examines Germany’s discursive comfort zones concerning migration and border politics through their artistic endeavors.

As an integral part of the exhibition, the video series features in-depth interviews conducted with the artists of the WAWA network. These interviews provide detailed insights into the artists’ personal backgrounds, creative processes, and the inspiration behind the creation of their artworks. The video series offers a comprehensive and engaging look into the world of the WAWA artists and their work, providing a unique opportunity for viewers to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for their art form.

Opening
Friday, 09 June, 5 pm

Artists
Aleksandra Kononchenko,
Amina Maher,
Candaş Baş,
Ceren Oykut,
Havîn Al-Sîndy,
Işıl Eğrikavuk,
Marina Naprushkina,
Razan Sabbagh,
Ronak Moshtaghi,
Ruba Salameh,
Özlem Sarıyıldız,
Sara Nabil,
Seçil Yersel,
Sümer Sayın,
AKS (Selda Asal with
Gizem Akman,
Gizem Aksu,
Melika Akbari aka likabari,
Nour Sokhon,
Seda Mimaroğlu)

(Videos @Trailer)
Aslı Dinç,
AKS,
Raha Faridi,
Elaheh Habibi,
Nazgol Kashani,
Özlem Sarıyıldız,
Ceren Oykut,
Irina Berezneva
(Freefilmers Collective),
PEK

Organized by Freie University and funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, the “Exiled Lives on the Stage: Practices of Self Fashioning, Archiving, and Decolonization” event will be taking place on 21-25 February. The program includes workshops, roundtables, panels, and concerts.

The event is focused on the following questions:

What strategies do artists in self-exile and/or at risk develop and acquire to enter the German cultural industry, including the theatre stages?

Is self-fashioning an exilic artist’s identity emancipating or restricting?

How do we archive the affective stories, works of art, and exiled lives of artists who have come to Germany?

What strategies for archiving the lives of exiled artists exist today, inside and outside the institutions?

How do the works of art impact institutions and the public debate, and how can they help others?


As part of the program, WAWA Team member and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Post-Doctoral fellow Şirin Fulya Erensoy will be talking about archiving and the efforts of WAWA in a roundtable that investigates topics such as the need for more action and memory keeping with regard to artists at risk and in exile within Berlin’s decentralized institutions, and challenges of archives in the making through private and independent initiatives.


For more info please visit https://www.artspaceinexile.org/


Hotel Continental, Elsenstraße 87, 12435 Berlin
21-25 February 2023

The exhibition Silent Scream urges the viewer to confront the deaths of women who attempted to defend themselves from violence.

In order to make the problem of femicide concrete, Aslı Atasoy Öner and Mithat Can Öner combine light and sound installations to create Silent Scream. The artworks create a space for interaction with the subject and awaken empathy.

A number of workshops led by professionals on women’s self-defense, body awareness, and creative expression complement the exhibition (workshops are available in Turkish, English, and German). 

Address: Aquarium
Skalitzer Str. 6 10999 Berlin
Date: 22-26 February 14.00-20.00

Source: Silent Scream website. 

POC Art Collective’s first event of 2023 in collaboration with Apartment Project will be taking place on February 14. The screening, ‘Three Shorts from Palestine’ will be followed by the talk of the director Wisam Al Jafari. 

The program includes: 
Bethlehem 2001 (2020, 15 min) by Ibrahim Handal
By The Sea (2021, 12 min) by Wisam Al Jafari
Ambience (2019, 15 min) by Wisam Al Jafari

Date: Tuesday 14th Feb. 2023
Address: Hertzbergstraße 13 12055 Neukölln Berlin

Source: “Three Shorts from Palestine”. Poc Art Collective, Facebook post. 

The feature film ELAHA starring WAWA member Derya Durmaz is premiering at this year’s Perspektive Deutsches Kino at the Berlinale. ELAHA by Milena Aboyan focuses on female perspectives and restrictive gender constructs through the story of a German-Kurdish woman protagonist.

“Elaha, 22, believes she must restore her supposed innocence before she weds. A surgeon could reconstruct her hymen but she cannot afford such an operation. She asks herself: why does she have to be a virgin anyway, and for whom?” 

Please find info about screening dates at Elaha Programme

Source: Berlinale. “Elaha”. Website. 

“Mural” is a series of film screenings organized by Najwa Ahmed with the goal of promoting the work of FLINTA/BIWOC/BIPOC filmmakers, particularly those with a history of migration or refugee status. 

The Mural screening program combines together short films made by FLINTA/BIWOC/BIPOC filmmakers and eleven varied viewpoints that collectively paint a portrait of the Global South, ranging from eco-consciousness to spirituality, artificial and other-than-human intelligence to love and loneliness.

Address: Sinema Transtopia – Lindower Str. 20/22/Haus C, 13347 Berlin
Date: February 23, 20:00

Source: Sinema Transtopia. “Mural”. Website. 

Mahsa Aleph will be presenting her works as part of Junge Academie’s Open Studios.

Four artists from the visual arts, architecture, film, and media studies will come together for the event around the topic, “What aesthetics can be used for artistic testimony and to keep us from forgetting?”

Artist Mahsa Aleph reinterprets classical Persian literature in her works by turning its abstract core into concrete creative procedures. She offers details on the evolution of her art in the Open Studio.

February 23, 6-10 pm, AdK, Hanseatenweg 10. 

Source: Akademie Der Künste. “Junge Academie Open Studios”. Website. 

WAWA is organizing its first-panel discussion as part of Chromatic Wednesdays.

Theme: Solidarity 15 January 2023, Wednesday | Season 3, Episode 1
19.30 Panel discussion, 21.00 Concert 
Apartment Project and online
Livestream link: https://youtube.com/live/h4mB2bKIweY

The panel “Thinking about the Meanings of the Archive” will be centered on the theme of solidarity. The discussion with filmmaker Najwa Ahmed, and dancer and choreographer Gizem Aksu, moderated by researcher Nil Mutluer, will be focused on these core questions:

How can an online archive go beyond simply being a digital database and serve its community in a more embodied manner?
What forms of archiving should it take?
What are its socio-political and cultural implications?

With these questions in mind, the panel will cover WAWA’s ongoing journey, and initiators and members will unpack terms such as «living», «engaged» and «interactive» archive to conceptualize alternative ways of activating archives.

The panel discussion will be followed by a concert by WAWA member İpek Ural (PEK).

Najwa Ahmed is a Palestinian visual artist, writer and curator based in Berlin since 2020. She graduated in English studies in Palestine and completed studies in visual arts at the Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin and the Berlin University of the Arts. In Palestine she was active in the social and cultural field as a translator, social worker and project developer. In Brussels she worked as a dramaturg, creative director and theater performer. Her artistic practice moves between writing, theater, film, video, land art and visual art. She explores themes of displacement, queer politics, identity and belonging, collective memory and intersectional feminism. She writes for Arabic and English language publications and platforms, such as JEEM – Sexuality and Gender, Visual Verse, CFFP’ magazine Disrupted, the NewArab and Sasapost.

Gizem Aksu is an independent choreographer, dancer, activist and former academic from Istanbul living in Berlin. She graduated in Political Science and International Relations from Boğaziçi University and Contemporary Dance from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, where she also earned her PhD. Due to her enthusiasm for undermining the ground of social theory with artistic experiments, she shifted from political science to dance, installation, film, and text. Through her art, she creates a portal where spirituality and politics intertwine, approaching the body as an energetic field by finding artistic expressions and incarnations that are socially interactive, physically provocative, and contextually situated. As a researcher and activist, she is closely connected to feminist sociocultural studies, social anthropology, and queer studies.

Nil Mutluer is a social scientist who holds a PhD in Comparative Gender Studies from the Central European University and advocates for rights and freedoms. Nil works and acts in the intersectional space of academia, civil society, media, and arts. She has published in various academic and non-academic journals and newspapers on diversity (gender, ethnic, and religious), nationalism, migration, memory studies, and Turkish politics. She is currently a Senior Researcher at the University of Leipzig and a Research Fellow at EUME – Forum Transregional Studies in Berlin. Between 2021 and 2022, she produced the socio-political discussion program Başka Düşünce (The Other Thinking) at ArtıTV and also co-produces intermittent sociological and political analysis programs on television.

İpek Ural (PEK) is a classical pianist from Istanbul and has performed in various choirs, rock bands and operas between 2009 and 2012. Ural has been composing her own recordings for the last two years and started releasing her songs in 2021. She is also busking in Berlin since 2020. She describes her art as an expression of her emotions through dreamy sounds. Her songs are based on real events and situations, so they can be described as her emotional diary and a self-healing method that allows troubled emotions to flow.

«Chromatic Wednesdays» is a bi-weekly event series bringing together creative thinkers across diverse backgrounds. As part of this interdisciplinary program, the panel discussion and concert will be presented at 19.30 (doors open at 19.00) at Apartment Project (Hertzbergstraße 13, 12055 Berlin) and can also be followed online on Youtube (https://youtube.com/live/h4mB2bKIweY).

Curated by Najwa Ahmed, the first Mural film screenings will be taking place on the 21st of January at Filmarche! “Mural” is a series of film screenings that are aimed to celebrate and platform the work of FLINTA/BIWOC/BIPOC in the film industry, especially emerging artists, and most specifically artists with a migration or refugee background, who face obstacles in their work due to the lack of access to resources, spaces and funding.
The Project aims to create a platform for sharing the diverse visual visions that tell pieces of the tales that make up the Global South map. The series will showcase and share films and visual experiments of artists from the Global South regardless of their genres, to build an alternative platform that will carry our voices to the world.

The 1st program of the event will be including the following collection of films:
“Mother Nature”: Disgusted with the already deplorable behavior of human being towards their natural environment), NURU, a young woman of the planet with an overflowing imagination, decides to paint herself motor oil which she uses as a metaphor to pass the message to the next generation.
“Planet Blue”: a tale about reincarnation, destruction, and recovery. A cosmic presentation of a parallel dystopia.
“Shifting Sands”: a video-art, which reflects on our body as something constantly moving, how it melts into landscapes while being a landscape itself, and this meditative pulse that keeps it going.
“Evin’s Story”: Based on a staged interview with ex-guerrilla Zilan who becomes Evin, and also talks about why she can’t eat fish now.
“Family Portrait”: a mini-documentary that captures stories from the youth of the filmmaker’s aunts. Unveils their struggles during poverty times and tenderness as they recollect stories about the spiritual healer Elidio Souza Faria. The film is storytelling to not forget those who built the filmmaker’s childhood home.
“Silence”: The story of Ali, who’s a silent person, from or even about whom we don’t know much. During one day with them, we will learn about their reality and end up knowing what makes them alive.
“Always Night”: In a cold and pandemic Berlin winter, where it seems that darkness never ends and the infinite nights devour us, we come together to rediscover our curiosity to create warmth and affection within our given spaces -our bodies and our homes.
“I’d do Anything For Love”: a story that explores a person’s journey in search of true love.

Date and Time: 21.01.2023, Saturday at 19.00 Uhr
Location: Lahnstraße 25, 12055 Berlin, Filmarche

Source: Ahmed, Najwa. [@purplekarmel]. Instagram.

“Nylon-6”, a new zine self-published by Selen Solak (@selensolak_) and Catharina Szonn is now available at Motto Books

“Nylon-6 is the name of a polyamide polymer synthesized from ε-caprolactam in Germany. Based on questions about how technological change can be represented and how it affects social interaction on a daily basis, the authors explore the topic of nylon-6 in their first issue of a continuing zine series. The issue “Nylon -6” specifically explores the historical connection between ‘workwear’, technology, economic growth, and economic competition during the Cold War era, and provides a segue to a present where the importance of technology, economics, and sustainability are once again being discussed”.

Design by Selen Solak and Catharina Szonn
Riso Printed by Colorama, 2022

Source: “Nylon-6”, 2022. Motto.

Curated by Sophie Ataya, the “Female Shorts” screening seeks to celebrate women in film and will be taking place at Movement Kreuzberg on 19.01.23, Thursday. The screening focuses on seven films made by various female directors, including WAWA artist Nazgol Kasha’s “May She Rest in Peace”.

Iranian-American filmmaker Nazgol Kashani “studied Cultural Policy in Paris and London and later worked as an art curator and cultural journalist for web and TV broadcasts. She obtained her MFA in Filmmaking at Ohio University in 2019. Since then she has made various documentaries and narrative short films, which have been screened at various international film festivals”.

Source: Nazgol Kasha website

The complete program of “Female Shorts” is as follows: “Flare” by Borbala
“May She Rest in Peace” by Nazgol Kasha
“So Honey Now” by Laura Johanna
“Chez Andre” by Elsa Méchin-Angot
“Miss Butterfly & Khoum-Ke” by Lea Najjar
“Cycologic” by Elsa Löwdin
“Astral Body Report” by Elsa Méchin-Angot & Sophie Ataya

Location: Moviemento Kreuzberg, Kottbusser Damm 22, 10967 Berlin
Date and Time: 19.01.23
Screening starts at 9 pm, and Entry at 8:30 pm

Source: Ataya, Sophie. [@sophie_ataya]. Instagram.

Organized by the Schwuz Queer Club and curated by İpek İpekçioğlu, Akman will be on stage for the ‘Queers in Concert’ event together with other artists and artist groups Anthony Hüseyin, Adir Jan, Rusnam feat. Lynda Menoueri, X-Berg Kız Meslek Lisesi korosu, Prince Emrah & Nidoş. 
Aimed at offering queer musicians and bands “a professional concert platform and showing what great, versatile queer artists there are”, the event is sponsored by the New Music Initiative and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.

Address: Rollbergstraße 26, 12053 Berlin
Date and time: December 8, 2022, 19:00
Source: “ Queers in Concert”, Schwuz website. 

BeHome Concert
As part of the BeHome evenings (a delightful event of a mix of live concerts and DJ acts), Gizem Akman and her band Pulsar Collective will be playing at Beate Uwe! 

Pulsar collective is a Berlin-based electronic live band that creates “unique and exciting new sound between electronic beats, acoustic instruments, and live vocals -all improvised and emerging from spontaneous creativity”. 
Come by if you want to enjoy good music and dance on Thursday evening!
Address: Bear Uwe Schillingstr. 31, 10179, Berlin
Date and time: December 15, 2022, 21:00 – 04:00

Source: Pulsar Collective website 
Beat Uwe

Performed by Gizem Akman, Patrick Khatami, Ariel Nil Levy and Tomoya Kawamura, I LOVE EU? performance is on stage at English Theater Berlin on the 7th, 8th, and 10th of December.

I LOVE EU? is a performative examination of the EU.
“Can the European Union be an inspiration for a peaceful postnational world? Is it the non-plus ultra expression of what the continent learned from two world wars? Or is it an incredibly strained construct that falls apart at the first signs of a crisis? How does a Eurocentric view differ from that of the increasing number of people forced to leave their homelands and gather at the borders of Europe and the EU in hopes of survival and a dignified existence?
Four performers explore these questions using 50 interviews conducted with EU citizens and non-EU citizens to create an open and interactive evening of theater”.

Address:
ENGLISH THEATRE BERLIN |
INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Fidicinstraße 40
10965 Berlin

Date and Time:
8th and 10th of December 2022
22.00-23.30

Credits:
Concept and Direction by Daniel Brunet
Dramaturgy by Shlomo Lieberman and Marianne Ramsay-Sonneck
Stage Design by Isabelle Kasier
Lighting Design by Christian Maith
Music and Compositions by Lenard Gimpel
Costume Design by Jeanne Louët
Design Assistance by Juliette Catelle
Assistant Direction and Stage Management by Rose Nolan
Production Assistance by Mihaela Horvath and Zain Qureshi

Source: English Theater Berlin