de.VOID – Archive of Individuals

[Report]

[Panel]

[Jury’s Comments]

Eric:

There are now different approaches with a certain idea that history is embedded into the place itself. Although the site of the thesis Palace of Republic has been taken away, with the thesis itself, the site can still find traces or house traces of the past. That can be taken as a starting point to allow traces remain and have the memory of the place.

With your presentation, the program of Archive operates continuously which deals the process of memory and individuals.

What I find potentially powerful still about the thesis which has not been examined yet is that there are documents revealed on the East German side by the West government. But the West would never reveal their documents. There’s something about the acknowledgement that you can look into. Your program may only deal with East German documents but it can start to relate to the NSA.

Christiane:

It’s nice drawing but as a German citizen, it is confusing for me to understand your reinterpretation of Berlin.

I would appreciate more lightness towards the program. Not everyone would love to read the Stasi records knowing the possible betrayal of their friends. As a German, I would just leave the site Palace of Republic empty, off from history.