The TRUTH LAMP is a symbol for the fight for democratic rights and for the fight to withstand politically unstable times.

My strong interest in visionary new artistic developments has led to interdisciplinary video installations. I work with a system of different light sources, sound systems, electronic machines, newly built sculptures, costumes, interiors and video screenings. In many of the video installations, the existing exhibition space was used in such a way that the space seemed like a film set from the projected video work.

My sculptures combine unconventional materials such as animal fur, fetish chains, light bulbs, black miniature tiles, vases or vessels, Asian ceramic gold dragons, luxurious fabrics, furniture parts, small computer screens and technical vintage machines. There is a certain paradox in my objects, but it is intentional: on the one hand they radiate preciousness, sparkling infinity & uniqueness and on the other hand one has associations with abyss, demise and death. A new beginning arises from death, but at the same time you think of transitoriness and decay.

– Nina E. Schönefeld

About the work

Written, Edited & Directed: Nina E. Schönefeld

Director of Photography: Valentin Giebel

Sound & Music: Carlos Pablo Villamizar. / Special thanks to DJ Hell

Selected speeches: Julian Assange - 'I cannot forgive terrible injustice', 2017 *** Chelsea Manning - Chelsea

Manning on Wikileaks, trans politics & data privacy, 2018 *** Luvvie Ajayi - Get comfortable with being uncomfortable, 2018 *** Edward Snowden - In Conversation with Edward Snowden, 2019

Starring: Anstasia Keren, Thinley Wingen, Alexander Skorobogatov, Lucie Schoenefeld, Oda Langner, Emil von Gwinner, Keschia Zimbinga, Ana Dossantos, Chantal Hountondji, Nasra Mohamad Mut, Yuko Tanaka Betts, Falko Nickel, Johanna Langner, Anna Esdal, Stella Junghanss, Nina Philipp, Mike Betts, Christopher Schoenefeld, Joanna Buchowska, Alexander Sudin, Andreas Templin, Dirk Lehr, Ginger Fikus, Talia Bakkal, Acelya Bellican, Marlah Lewis, Amira Yasmin, Josephine Lang, Leo Burkhardt, Lisa Nasner, Violetta Weyer, Marina Wilde, Timothy Long, Sean Jackson, Riley Warren, Katja Turnella, Hansa Wisskirchen

Schönefeld’s art examines the contemporary social and political climate. Through unusual mediums, objects and videos, Schönefeld questions the contemporary roles of artists, exploring the relationship between art, blockbuster movies and the present digital age. Her stories imagine a world where, due to drastic political shift, we need to fight for our democratic rights and survival. A concept that perhaps is not so far fetched?

Artist statement

B. T. R. (B O R N T O R U N) is a symbol for the fact that the law of the press as the fourth power in the state must be respected.

The fact that nowadays it is possible to influence the political power structure via data sales on social networks is very dangerous for our democracies.

My video work B. T. R. (B O R N T O R U N, 2020), which is also shown in Zionskirche for Points of Resistance, is about the world domination of right wing authoritarian autocracies and the complete prohibition of publication. It is also about the possible extradition of Julian Assange to the US and what this could mean worldwide for the situation of independent publishers, whistleblowers and journalists in the future.

“In case there would be a drastic political change in your country you will need special advice and gear to survive... Get prepared.”

The story of Schönefeld’s video B. T. R. is set in the year 2043 and deals with the subject of authoritarian autocracies and the complete restriction of journalists. It also deals with the possible extradition of Julian Assange to the US and what it could mean for the situation of independent publicists, whistleblowers, and journalists worldwide in the future. In the year 2043 data is the most valuable asset on earth because data is being used to win elections. Authoritarian rightwing governments have the majority worldwide. They have implemented education camps for the youth to gain more power and influence. Movie heroine S.K.Y. grew up in one of those education camps called WHITE ROCK. She doesn’t know anything about her parents. She starts to research about her heritage. During this process, she gets in touch with a group of independent journalists and publishers. They are the most persecuted people on earth which means that they are threatened by prison and death every day. It seems that freedom of speech is lost – forever…

The video B. T. R. was created as a science fiction story but it has its roots in the present time. It shows a future scenario of what could happen when people do not follow political decisions made in their countries and when they do not start to question undemocratic movements. Democracy can be easily lost if the freedom of press as fourth power in a country is restricted. Quotes from the movie like “Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the government can play” are taken from leaders of Third Reich – in this case from Joseph Goebbels. But you can find these kinds of statements also in today’s speeches of rightwing parties everywhere in the world. Today rightwing parties in Europe are on the rise (Poland, Hungary, Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, etc.), journalists and publishers are put in jail like in Turkey. The parallels between our times in a lot of European countries (especially in Germany) and past times in the 1920ies in Germany are scary. The story of the movie B. T. R. is based on several documentaries. The quoted documentaries deal with Third Reich, Weimar Republic, with strategies of rightwing parties in today’s Europe, with deserters of the rightwing scene like Franziska Schreiber and Heidi Benneckenstein. They also deal with practices of “hunting down” independent journalists, whistleblowers, and publishers like Julian Assange, Edward Snowden & Chelsea Manning.

Andrea Röpke – a German journalist who has published information about the rightwing scene in Germany for decades – was one of the biggest inspirations for the movie. She will never give up filming, researching & publishing even if she is facing violent attacks. Cambridge Analytica’s greatest hack – a Netflix documentary – deals with the dangers of influencing elections by influencing people through data in social networks. In the story of B. T. R. companies similar to Cambridge Analytica are integral part of how parties win elections, the system has been built on lies.

The film basically develops a future scenario in which authoritarian rightwing parties all over the world have taken over power. A free press (according to AFD “press of lies”) has been abolished. In the year 2043 it is no longer possible to express one’s opinion. Independent journalists and publicists are not allowed to report about reality. Rightwing governments have implemented education camps for the youth to gain more power.

The role of heroine S.K.Y. is inspired by rightwing deserter Heidi Benneckenstein. She grew up in a far rightwing family in Germany and had to visit rightwing education camps every school holiday. In 2011 when she was 19 years old she decided to quit this surrounding which is supposed to be very dangerous. She said the initial moment in her life to desert family and friends was when she was pregnant herself. To be forced to put your own child in the same environment based on fear and hate was unbearable for her. She went through hell in her childhood. She was never allowed to question anything and to develop into an independent person with her own opinions. Today finally she is… risking her life every day.

B. T. R. has been intended as a film of the future but has its roots in the present. It is based on detailed research (e.g. on Julian Assange & Edward Snowden, on Cambridge Analytica, on investigative journalism and far rightwing movements).