HOUSE TOUR #6, April 2024
Walkabout
BRÜCHE in Berlin Exile: Flight, Courage, and Responsibility in Contemporary Art at Haus Kunst Mitte
Dear friends of Haus Kunst Mitte,
In the sixth edition of our HOUSE TOURS series, we continue our three-part exploration of the exhibition “BRÜCHE – Artists in Berlin Exile,” which was shown at Haus Kunst Mitte in early 2024. This exhibition focused on the complex and layered experiences of artists living in exile. In this edition, we highlight the central themes of flight, courage, and responsibility, expressed through powerful installations and video works.
Ahmed Ramadan, Traces II-V, 2021, Street impressions printed on paper, Courtesy of the artist © Michael Lüder
Ahmed Ramadan addressed his personal escape route between Syria and Germany in his series “Traces II–V.” In these works, he captured real imprints of roads and paths at various border crossings. These pieces mark the beginning of his ongoing image series “Preserving Traces.” Ramadan transforms individual memory and collective refugee experience into visual art. The topography of the journey becomes a testimony of exile.
Sofiia Holubeva, Those who are running, 2022, Serie, print on canvas, Courtesy of the artist © Michael Lüder
Sofiia Holubeva also tackled themes of displacement and escape. Her work “To Those Who Run,” created between 2020 and 2022, gained a deeply unsettling relevance following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. What began as a personal reflection on the questions, “Where am I running to?” and “What is my destination?”, became, after the war began on February 24, 2022, a societal mirror. Since then, countless Ukrainians have fled the war, giving the artwork a collective resonance.
Yama Rahimi, Small Boats, 2024, Experimental Short Film, 13:00, Courtesy of the artist © Michael Lüder
The absence of legal escape routes forces many to take dangerous and life-threatening paths. Yama Rahimi explored this reality in his experimental short film “Small Boats.” The film is a homage to the courage of those who, in despair, search for a new beginning. The symbolic “small boats” represent freedom, hope, and the unbreakable human will to survive.
Amer al Akel, And the shackles are certain to be broken, 2023, Full HD Video, Courtesy of the artist © Michael Lüder
In his short video “And the Shackles Will Surely Break,” Amer al Akel reflected on internal and external limitations. The video was inspired by the poem “The Will to Live” by Tunisian poet Aboul-Qacem Echebbi. This cinematic piece is a powerful metaphor for the belief that all forms of restriction—whether personal or societal—can be overcome, even if it requires immense courage, suffering, and endurance. Its central message: Nothing lasts forever; everything is temporary.
Polina Shcherbyna, When is the time to gather stones?,, 2023, Wood burning, carving, German school desk from the former GDR, Courtesy of the artist © Michael Lüder
With her artwork “When Is the Time to Gather Stones?” Polina Shcherbyna portrayed the present-day world as an apocalyptic landscape, shaped by humanity’s failure to take responsibility for future generations. In her artistic vision, fragments of the world collapse upon us—a consequence of human actions. Environmental disasters, humanitarian crises, and wars reflect this collective irresponsibility. The “heaviest chunks,” as she calls them, will remain as material for future generations to rebuild the world.
With kind regards,
Your Haus Kunst Mitte Team