Berlin-based artist Jens Kloppmann will present his impressive video installation “6:57 P.M.” as artistic supporting programme to the international symposium “Memorial Mania – Negotiating Social and Political Strategies of Memory” of the American Academy Berlin at Haus der Kulturen der Welt (9-10 December 2011, see this Wartist article). The conference will address various issues of the culture of remembrance, including the tenth anniversary of the terrorist acts of 9/11, with an emphasis on memorials and both German and American approaches.
For the group show “Zeitenwende” (turning point) on 10 years of 9/11 at ARD-Hauptstadtstudio (Berlin, 1 September until 23 October 2011), he created a video installation that focuses on the very moment, in which U.S. President Bush returns to the White House on the early evening of 11 September: while he is turning his back to the viewer, one can literally feel the expectations of the whole world weighing heavily on his shoulders. The walk to his office becomes a short, repetitive loop: the protagonist is not able to make any progress, however hard he is trying.
In the artist’s words:1
When President Bush is arriving in Washington at the evening of 11 September, the attacks have been done some 10 hours ago. He is leaving his helicopter and is walking alone on a lawn to his office, turning his back to the viewer. There, he will consult his executiv staff and decide on the next political and military steps. In this very moment, the eyes of literally billions of television viewers are watching his back. Everybody knows that he is forced to act. How will he react, which steps will he initiate and how will America position itself? This is the moment of meanwhile. The world is waiting for thereafter. The further development of events are known.
Further information about the bilingual symposium can be found in the PDF document on the event (1,5 MB).
Memorial Mania – Negotiating Social and Political Strategies of Memory
Fr 9 December 2011 from 1800h
‘Sa 10 December 2011 1100-1800h
The video installation “6:57 P.M.” can be found in the ground floor, next to the theatre’s entrance.
Haus der Kulturen der Welt
John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10
10557 Berlin
Germany
Free admission; registration for the conference until 8 December 2011 1700h at program@americanacademy.de.
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Further articles about Jens Kloppmann here at Wartist:
- Wartist Exclusive: “Trümmerfrau” by Jens Kloppmann
- Wartist presents: Group Show “Turning Point” on 10 years of 9/11 at ARD-Hauptstadtstudio, Berlin
- Jens Kloppmann: “schlachten” (Kunstraum Richard Sorge, Berlin)
- Translation Bayer ↩
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