A few months ago, I posted an article on how the lockdown appears to have created a new dogma of system relevance that discriminates against workers in arts and culture. It was a story very close to my heart and close to what matters to all of us at iHeartBerlin.
While some cultural institutions have since been able to reopen, although under difficult circumstances, the general situation has not improved for most of the scene. Especially in the alternative and underground scenes, it’s still pretty dramatic. While state-funded institutions don’t really have to worry about bankruptcy, it is these independent artistic and cultural creators who really have to fear for their livelihoods. Rents and bills still have to be paid, but producing shows and events is still often impossible, and government support programs have so many blind spots and either leave a lot of people behind or just aren’t enough. For many, the situation is really serious. And given that we’re only at the start of the second wave (possibly the biggest) which will bring new challenges and restrictions, you don’t even want to start imagining how much worse it could get.
And while everyone is busy with their own struggles and fears in the face of the pandemic, it is the independent craftsmen of arts and culture who are completely neglected and forgotten. The short film UNSCENE by cray cray productions and Sonder tackles this question with beautiful images of some of the Berlin artists who represent the independent scene. In poetic terms, the film describes some of the harsh and unfair assessments that are currently being fought in a society in the grip of a pandemic: “We are divided between worth and worthless, between art which is important and art which is messy. And dreams don’t seem to matter anymore.
These words really break my heart because they imply that the current situation has amplified a class system that already existed but no longer allows independent artists to have at least a modest life – no, now they face poverty and to social welfare. But the film does not dwell solely on these questions. He underlines the importance of the arts and culture for our society in general, but of the underground in particular, because all artistic impulse of movement, of change, of progress is created here. So if we as a society neglect and neglect this section of the art world, this breeding ground for new ideas and new talent, we are contributing to the slow collapse of the whole system. I couldn’t be more serious with you. No culture. No future.
Participating artists:
Aleksei Uvarov
Benjamin pring
Benjamin strafe
Billie Rae
Bláthin Eckardt
Dunja von K
Emiko Morgaine
Phantom Pippi
Galina hayes
Ixa
Jan Ehre
Jenna wilson
Julietta the doll
Liliana Velasquez M.
Lori Baldwin
Masha terentieva
Miss Popalina and Wasted Wayne
Mr. Gom
Remi Martin
Robin höhn
Sophie kahrmann
Sylvia Schmid
Tyresse Bracy
Diesen Artikel auf deutsch lesen.
by Franc
October 15, 2020
in Art, Videos