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An Outdoor Light Intervention by Bjørn Melhus
for Gallery Weekend 2021
30 April 2021
8:30 – 10pm
@ Zionskirche, Berlin
Zionskirchplatz, 10119 Berlin
POINTS OF RESISTANCE II Supports:
The initiative TOWER TO THE PEOPLE (Bjørn Melhus / LOQI / Galerie Ebensperger)
with Bjørn Melhus’ Light Intervention
SOS // SAVE OUR SOULS
taking place during Gallery Weekend
30 April – 2 May 2021 at 9-10 pm
North Tower Frankfurter Tor, Berlin-Friedrichshain
On Friday night, join the initiative also at Zionskirche, Berlin:
SOS // SAVE OUR SOULS
30 April 2021 at 8:30 – 10 pm
Zionskirchplatz, Berlin-Prenzlauerberg
Presented by POINTS OF RESISTANCE II in cooperation with Zionskirche Berlin
It has become quieter and quieter around the arts and culture scene in the past 14 months, and a sense of lethargy and exhaustion seems to be spreading.
The initiative TOWER TO THE PEOPLE, consisting of the artist Bjørn Melhus, the Gallery Ebensperger and the Art Brand LOQI, would like to invite you and call for the joint action SAVE OUR SOULS – RETTET UNSERE SEELEN this weekend. Video link.
On the three evenings of the Berlin Gallery Weekend – 30.04 to 02.05.2021 – from 21:00 – 22:00 TOWER TO THE PEOPLE are sending an emergency SOS signal by switching on and of the lights in the north tower of the Frankfurter Tor.
On Friday 30 April at 20:30 – 22:00, POINTS OF RESISTANCE II is joining in from the tower of the Zionskirche.
The emergency signal SOS, otherwise used in shipping, will be morsed into the city space.
The light flashing in the tower invites all Berliners to join in by flicking their light switches from their apartments. Whether in the form of the Morse Code — three times short — three times long — three times short — or just by simply switching on and switching off the room light.
Two weeks after the action “Lichterfenster”, where the pandemic victims and their relatives were commemorated, SAVE OUR SOULS is to become a collective cry of distress for mental health and an expression of mutual compassion. In a time when depression and other mental illnesses have massively increased and the lack of art and culture is drying up our souls, the SOS signal is intended to set a common, peaceful, and above all safe sign of hope for all those affected.
SOS SAVE OUR SOULS is the prelude of a series of light art installations by the initiative TOWER TO THE PEOPLE.
MORE INFO ON THE POINTS OF RESISTANCE INITIATIVE:
Introduction
Points of Resistance invites contemporary artists and thinkers from a diversity of places and perspectives to address the many meanings of resistance in today’s complex world. Without taking any singular political position, Points of Resistance gives voice to humanistic viewpoints necessary in an era witnessing the steady resurgence of authoritarianism, nationalism and racism the world over. This is as much a sickness of our times as the ongoing pandemic emergency. We hope that Points of Resistance will provide an antidote, if not necessarily a solution, to the ills endangering the hard-won, and relatively short-lived, freedoms of our society – especially in the context of Berlin’s painful history.
Situated in Berlin’s Zionskirche, Points of Resistance invokes the remarkable history of this church as a crucial point of resistance both against the Nazis and during the GDR – from renowned theologian and anti-Nazi activist Deitrich Bonhoeffer who worked in the parish for over a decade until his arrest by the Gestapo, to the numerous opposition groups and human rights activists who’s use of the Zionskirche as a meeting point made it a target of the Stasi until the collapse of the GDR. Upon this historic stage, we assemble a diversity of artistic voices – through painting, photography, sculpture, video, sound, performance, and discussion – reflecting on the mistakes of the past and present in order to celebrate the values which enable us to forge unity from diversity.
– Rachel Rits-Volloch
Mission Statement
“Points of Resistance” is a series of exhibitions and projects by artists and non-artists who all take great pleasure in thinking and delight in taking their own position. They also know that we should be concerned with what is important not only for the individual but also for our culture.
The Zionkirche church in Berlin has a distinguished history as a refuge and work space for people who think differently. In all its manifestations, including in its everyday work and loving approach, it has always represented a lived, resolute but also tolerant resistance, right through to the present day. We deliberately chose this special place for our exhibition, for it asks all participants in “Points of Resistance”, whether creators or visitors, to take on a particular responsibility: in the face of the fissures emerging, worldwide, in political, humane and private decision-making practice as a result of fear and inhumanity, our aim is to demonstrate, through artistic positions, attitudes that have the potential to create a spirit of commonality.
The aim of “Points of Resistance” is to be an intellectual and emotional home for people – whatever their background, status, age or views – who are working together to find a possible way of gathering enough strength and enough arguments in the fight against the globalization of indifference; against every form of appropriation and manipulation and for the preservation of the hard-won basic values of democracy. “Points of Resistance” also strives to keep alive the memory of all those people who, time and again, remained true to their beliefs and were prepared to give their lives for these.
Berlin, as the capital of Germany today, is strongly marked by its history: whether as the former capital of the German Reich or as the formerly divided city, subsidized by both systems on either side of the Wall for decades. But it is also marked by the now almost proverbial scandals that have rocked Berlin since the reunification of Germany – the Berlin banking crisis, the debate around the rebuilding of the Berlin Palace, the airport debacle, Berlin’s “poor but sexy” status – and last but not least, of course, coronavirus.
Nonetheless, all the world still wants to move here – and this is no longer only “because Berlin is so cheap”. Despite it all, Berlin is still seen as a cosmopolitan, diverse and, in addition, extremely creative city. And neither have all these scandals dampened the humour of the Berliners themselves yet. “Points of Resistance” picks up on this. And this is what we are building on: the “Berlin Bear” carries his burden with difficulty, but he carries it stoically – and that makes him strong. And we are keeping up with him – giving up is not an option!
– Constanze Kleiner
Initiated by:
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With thanks to the
Zionskirche