ARAM HAN SIFUENTES – CHICAGO

WE ARE NOT THE OTHER
WE ARE THE CENTER

Feat.:
WERKHAUS MÜNZVIERTEL
ZIEMLICH SCHÖNE AUSSICHTEN
RAP!FUGEES HAMBURG

OPENING/PERFORMANCE
WEDNESDAY JULY 4TH 2018 – 1 9.00 H.

STATEMENT AND PROJECT IDEA BY ARAM HAN SIFUENTES

As the world is becoming more embroiled in protests with people fighting for immigrant rights, refugee rights, human rights, etc. it is important to create platforms where we can make art together to address these issues, have conversations, and to support one another even if our political viewpoints are different.

I would like to create a Protest Banner Lending Library in Hamburg, Germany as part of Migration of the Imaginary at FRISE. Ideally, I would like to explore creating a collaboration with a public library in Hamburg in order for them to be the site of Protest Banner making workshops and to house the Protest Banner Lending Library afterwards. This involves checking banners out and checking them back in once they are returned. There are no late fees. We generally record people’s emails, the dates they are checked out and returned, and where they were used.

For the workshops, I would like to work with youth, immigrants, and refugees in Hamburg. These workshops are free for the public and all are welcome to participate. Once participants make a banner, they can either keep the banners they have made or donate it to the library. Children as young as ten years old can participate. Banners are made with fusible web, fabric, and felt. Scissors and irons are needed. I will need a sewing machine to finish edges of banners. Banner slogans can be made with whatever slogan each participant chooses and they can be made in any language. Each banner takes up to 2 hours to make.

Ideally, I’d like to work toward finding a public place where we can display these banners out in the streets. Perhaps we can find a street where we can display them over a period of time on light posts, or flags outside a central city building. Of course depending on the site, considerations will be made to what materials the banners will be made of and how they will be made.

During this time, I would like to meet as many people as possible who work toward social justice in Hamburg, whether for refugees or immigrants or people of color. I am interested in learning the subtleties of the politics in Hamburg, and working with such partners as Salah from the Silent University. I am particularly interested in creating actions that can transcend borders.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Doro Carl, Torsten Bruch,Henriette von Enckevort,
Ariel Gentalen, Jan Holler, Jan Köchermann, Karin Missy Paule,
Rahel Puffert, Megha Ralapati, Günther Westphal,
Interkulturelles Forum Hamburg

A COOPERATION WITH HYDE PARK ART CENTER, CHICAGO

With the friendly support of the Ministry of Culture and Media Hamburg