Points of Resistance

Group show
At Zionskirche, Zionskirchplatz, 10119 Berlin
Opening: Easter Sunday, 4 April 2021
Duration: 5 – 25 April 2021

Monday–Saturday: 13–18, Sunday & Holidays: 12–17
And late openings for Talks & Video Nights
at KLEINERVONWIESE Gallery, Friedrichstrasse 204, 10117 Berlin

Curated by: Constanze Kleiner & Rachel Rits-Volloch
In cooperation with: David Elliott, Jan Kage, Stephan von Wiese

Initiated by: KLEINERVONWIESE in cooperation with MOMENTUM BERLIN
www.kleinervonwiese.com
www.momentumworldwide.org

The exhibition is supported by Stiftung Kunstfonds

Thanks to the Förderverein der Zionskirche and the Brandenburger Festspiele

“Points of Resistance” is an exhibition project by artists and non-artists who all take great pleasure in thinking and delight in taking their own position. They also know that we should be concerned with what is important not only for the individual but also for our culture.

The Zionkirche church in Berlin has a distinguished history as a refuge and work space for people who think differently. In all its manifestations, including in its everyday work and loving approach, it has always represented a lived, resolute but also tolerant resistance, right through to the present day. We deliberately chose this special place for our exhibition, for it asks all participants in “Points of Resistance”, whether creators or visitors, to take on a particular responsibility: in the face of the fissures emerging, worldwide, in political, humane and private decision-making practice as a result of fear and inhumanity, our aim is to demonstrate, through artistic positions, attitudes that have the potential to create a spirit of commonality.

The aim of the exhibition “Points of Resistance” is to be an intellectual and emotional home for people – whatever their background, status, age or views – who are working together to find a possible way of gathering enough strength and enough arguments in the fight against the globalization of indifference; against every form of appropriation and manipulation and for the preservation of the hard-won basic values of democracy. “Points of Resistance” also strives to keep alive the memory of all those people who, time and again, remained true to their beliefs and were prepared to give their lives for these.

Berlin, as the capital of Germany today, is strongly marked by its history: whether as the former capital of the German Reich or as the formerly divided city, subsidized by both systems on either side of the Wall for decades. But it is also marked by the now almost proverbial scandals that have rocked Berlin since the reunification of Germany – the Berlin banking crisis, the debate around the rebuilding of the Berlin Palace, the airport debacle, Berlin’s “poor but sexy” status – and last but not least, of course, coronavirus.

Nonetheless, all the world still wants to move here – and this is no longer only “because Berlin is so cheap”. Despite it all, Berlin is still seen as a cosmopolitan, diverse and, in addition, extremely creative city. And neither have all these scandals dampened the humour of the Berliners themselves yet. “Points of Resistance” picks up on this. And this is what we are building on: the “Berlin Bear” carries his burden with difficulty, but he carries it stoically – and that makes him strong. And we are keeping up with him -  giving up is not an option!

Constanze Kleiner