Humboldt Forum
Large-scale moving images for expansive spaces
Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz
Year
2021-2022
Location
Berlin
The expansive exhibition walls and cupola of the Humboldt Forum provide an ideal canvas for showcasing compelling cinematic works. This opportunity was granted to us as part of our work in regard to the museums special media installations. In response, we developed, produced and installed a series of films curated for this unique space. These cinematic creations guide both our team and today’s visitors on an immersive journey across diverse continents and countries, skillfully narrating stories through the immersive medium of moving images.
Along the silk road
A dome projection that takes you on a journey
Under the cupula, at the heart of the museum, you can let your eyes roam over the Silk Road and witness a long journey and history. Together with historians and curators, we used the museum‘s extensive collection of materials to show the „Northern Silk Road“ theme in an impressive dome projection. We developed a 15-minute animation that is projected inside the museum’s dome, 14 meters in diameter. Six projectors are aligned to cast a seamless and cohesive image into the dome, so you can observe how influences move from East to West and likewise West to East.
Performance in space
Traditional dance in a new light
The video installation „Journeys of a Javanese Body“ shows that culture has a fluid and processual character and that Indonesia’s rich dance tradition is at the same time changing and contemporary. The 14-meter-wide, 16-minute-long projection invites viewers to engage with the world of Asian theater. It was directed by Rizki Resa Utama and Camilla Kussl in collaboration with artists Rianto and Cahwati.
The Benin bronzes
and their critical debate or a space for discourse
For the last years an intense discussion about the restitution of the Benin Bronzes took place. But instead of showing numerous bronzes in the exhibition, this debate was made the core of a large 10-channel video installation. Instead of the bronzes, the different points of view of those involved are now the focus of the designated space. For this we have led 10 interviews in Europe and Nigeria with members of the benin royal family, representatives of the Nigerian government, artists and heads of museums, to give the viewer an overview of the history of Benin, its looting and the scattering of the artworks around the world. By means of the installation, the viewers should additionally get an insight into the discourse and the different perspectives and opinions.
Polyphonic Islam
The exhibition module „Aspects of Islam“
The exhibition module „Aspects of Islam“ is intended to present the diversity of the Islamic faith and its practices. To show Polyphonic Islam in Berlin it portrays the cultural and religious-ideological diversity of Muslims in a multi-channel installation. For this we were able to closely accompany 4 representatives of different Islamic faiths with a camera team in Berlin for several days.
