Opening: Hito Steyerl "Normality"

"Normality" focuses on earlier works by Hito Steyerl. In these, the artist examines the various social dynamics and tensions that emerged following the German reunification in the 1990s and early 2000s. The political developments of that time are presented in the exhibition as one of the breeding grounds for the rise of far-right violence to this day. In doing so, it also becomes particularly clear that anti-Semitism and racism in Germany are intertwined within complex historical relationships and repeatedly interact.

“Normality” is deliberately shown in the last quarter of the election year 2024. The far-right extremist AfD has made significant gains in democratic elections in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg. In this context, the exhibition confronts the normalization of the rise of right-wing parties and far-right thinking with Steyerl’s artistic and cinematic analysis of the social backgrounds and the history leading to their success – an event that must now be regarded as part of societal normality, not only in Germany but worldwide.

Hito Steyerl (*1966 in Munich) is an internationally renowned artist, filmmaker, and author. In her immersive environments, essayistic documentary films, and writings, she engages with media power relations and feminist critiques of representation. Her work lies at the intersection of film and visual art, as well as theory and practice. She is currently focusing on the impacts of artificial intelligence.

Duration of the exhibition: 27th October 2024 - 19th January 2025
Curator: Søren Grammel
Production management and design: Manuel Reinartz
Curatorial assistance: Fabienne Finkbeiner

With the kind support of Rent Event Tec GmbH Mannheim, Stiftung Landesbank Baden-Württemberg and Heidelberger Volksbank.