'Projections Onto the East' Examines the Performative Power of a Contested Term at Schinkel Pavillon and n.b.k.
'Projections Onto the East,' an exhibition curated by Fabian Bechtle and Leon Kahane, takes place at Schinkel Pavillon and Neuer Berliner Kunstverein (n.b.k.) in Berlin. It runs from September 10 to December 20, 2026, at Schinkel Pavillon and from September 10 to November 8, 2026, at n.b.k. This exhibition delves into themes related to 'the East' with a performative aspect. At Schinkel Pavillon, Gabriele Stötzer presents works inspired by the Stasi that convey themes of suffering and resistance, while Maya Schweizer critiques imperialism through a video featuring Pierre-Henri Ducos de la Haille's fresco. At n.b.k., Shlomo Pozner's 'Hershel Tours' references Hasidic pilgrimage, Maksym Khodak's film explores Soviet myths, and Pavel Brăila documents a Ukrainian refugee. Hito Steyerl's piece sheds light on marginalized Vietnamese workers, yet the exhibition fails to address the current Palestinian situation in Gaza.
Key facts
- 'Projections Onto the East' is curated by Fabian Bechtle and Leon Kahane as a joint exhibition and publication project.
- The exhibition runs Sept. 10–Dec. 20, 2026 at Schinkel Pavillon and Sept. 10–Nov. 8, 2026 at Neuer Berliner Kunstverein (n.b.k.) in Berlin.
- Schinkel Pavillon's venue formerly served as a reception hall for state functions during the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
- Gabriele Stötzer's Stasi-inspired works open the exhibition, including 'Everyday Objects' (1991), 'Hands Intertwined' (1982), and a 1992 photograph by Karin Rocholl.
- Maya Schweizer's video 'Suis son regard et observe' (2026) examines Pierre-Henri Ducos de la Haille's 1931 fresco for the Paris Colonial Exhibition.
- Helmar Lerski's photographs include 'Menschliche Hände' (1930–44), 'Araber und Juden' (ca. 1931–35), and 'Jüdische Soldaten' (ca. 1942–43).
- Maksym Khodak's 'Breadbasket for Europe' (2026) is a 16-mm film created using multiple AI tools, dramatizing the Soviet myth of German theft of Ukrainian 'black soil.'
- Pavel Brăila's 'Vera Means Belief' (2026) portrays Ukrainian refugee Vera Derevianko, who has lived two years in a camp on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border.
- Hito Steyerl's 'Land des Lächelns' (1990) depicts Vietnamese contract workers excluded from a former West Berlin–Brandenburg border crossing opening.
- Bechtle and Kahane created the Forum for Democratic Culture and Contemporary Art in 2018.
Entities
Artists
- Jacob Zhicheng Zhang
- J.L. Austin
- Fabian Bechtle
- Leon Kahane
- Gabriele Stötzer
- Karin Rocholl
- Maya Schweizer
- Pierre-Henri Ducos de la Haille
- Helmar Lerski
- August Sander
- Shlomo Pozner
- Maksym Khodak
- Pavel Brăila
- Vera Derevianko
- Hito Steyerl
Institutions
- Schinkel Pavillon
- Neuer Berliner Kunstverein (n.b.k.)
- LOOCK Galerie
- Gropius Bau
- Museum Folkwang
- Kicken Berlin
- Andrew Kreps Gallery
- Esther Schipper
- Forum for Democratic Culture and Contemporary Art
- Berlin Art Link
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- Paris
- France
- Essen
- Palestine
- Ukraine
- Moldova
- Gaza
- Poland
- Turkestan
- Brandenburg
- West Berlin
- Eastern Europe