ALTAR BERLIN is a ritual for the collective exploration of loss and memory. ALTAR BERLIN is an interactive and participatory installation. Artists and Berliners build the ALTAR together. It is a point of reflection in the city on how we – the inhabitants of Berlin – deal with our losses. ALTAR BERLIN is a sister project of ALTAAR ANTWERPEN (BELGIUM)
HISTORY
ALTAR BERLIN was born as a sister project of Altar Antwerp. Altar Antwerp was initiated in 2011 by the Mestizo Arts Platform and is now part of the collection of the MAS | Museum aan de Stroom (Belgium) where it is constantly being developed and presented anew every year.
The idea of the altar for the cities was conceived by the dramaturg Gerardo Salinas Salinas (KVS Theater Belgium, MAP). Together with Lucila Guichon, the first ALTAR was developed in 2011 and built in cooperation with the Mexican Embassy. Every year artists from different disciplines are engaged and in this way new elements are added to the altar year after year.
ALTAR BERLIN STATIONEN
STATION MICHELANGELO
A performative tour in the neighbourhood. The tour tells stories from the past, present and future of the “Mühlenkiez”, while participants* create personalised city maps. The tour starts at 15.00 in the Kulturmarkthalle and ends at 17.00 in the KaufHalle. Immediately after, the doors of the ALTAR BERLIN installation open and the second part of the performance begins.
Performance by and with: Antonia Giesen, Inti Gallardo, Lucas Page und Aleksandra Gajda. Concept & direction: Lucila Guichón
STATION MARKTPLATZ
How many people have experienced this pandemic alone? How has the sense of time changed during these months? What aspects of normal life that were lost in the pandemic might we as a society no longer need in the future?
Performance: Franco Toledo and Lucila Guichón
Concept & direction: Lucila Guichón
STATION PLANETARIUM
What closeness is possible during the pandemic? Who collects the stories worthy of not being forgotten? From the fire the question is born and in the fire the answer is burned.
Performance by and with Lucila Guichon, Franco Toledo, Aleksandra Gajda, Inti Gallardo, Antonia Giesen and Cristian Flores Rebolledo.
Concept & direction: Lucila Guichón
In the park in front of the Planetarium.
STATION KMH
We show all the results of our work, consisting of video projections, performances and the presentation of our fanzine ALTAR BERLIN.
How many people have experienced this pandemic alone? How has the sense of time changed during these months? Which aspects of normal life that were lost in the pandemic might we as a society no longer need in the future?
Performance by and with Franco Toledo, Leicy Valenzuela, Aleksandra Gajda, Inti Gallardo, Antonia Giesen and Cristian Flores Rebolledo.
Concept & direction: Lucila Guichón
STATION PANDEMIC FILMS
A compilation of testimonies from Berliners about thoughts, feelings and revelations that occurred during the pandemic.
STATION INTERVENTION
A long afternoon of public pauses reversing the post-pandemic rush to normality”. As part of “This is an Intervention!” we present a performance by and with Franco Toledo, Leicy Valenzuela, Aleksandra Gajda and Inti Gallardo More Info
STATION SPRACHCAFÉ POLNISCH
ALTAR BERLIN and SprachCafé Polnisch are part of the Moskito Netzwerkstelle, which supports projects for democracy and diversity in Pankow. Both initiatives meet in the question of how their neighbours are experiencing this strange time of the pandemic. ALTAR BERLIN will be an “open window” in the SprachCafé Polnisch until we can resume our planned activities in the KulturMarktHalle. In this café you can join in, leave your opinion or see what other Berliners answer to the questions you ask yourself!
RATHAUS PANKOW
Lucila Guichón creates an interactive concept that incorporates photography, spoken word and performance.
Choreography: Tamara Saphir
Spoken Word: Goitseone Montsho
Concept and photography: Lucila Guichon
