Erkan Özgen
Wonderland
- Film
Turkey 2016, 4min
Is it possible to depict trauma? Erkan Özgen’s Video “Wonderland” explores this question by having 13-year-old Mohammed report about his experiences as a refugee. Together with his family Mohammed used to live in the city of Kobane in northern Syria, which resisted the attacks of IS militants for 107 days. As he can neither speak nor hear Mohammed uses his body, exclusively, to convey his traumatic experiences – vivid, full of energy, without obvious sadness. He confronts us with what he himself had to live through on this escape from the IS. These are experiences, which we would not be able to withstand even if we only dreamt about them. His performance throws us as viewers back upon ourselves and questions the concept of humanity.
“Wonderland" is one of the most widely covered works of the 15th Istanbul Biennial by the press.
“Wonderland“ shows how impossible it is to convey war, conflicts and pain to those who have never made these experiences and how the audience has to construct these experiences from their own subjective perspective. Taking this point of view the title also comes to reference the space of imagination and the importance of making the unspeakable more tangible.
Dates
Past
Location
HAU2
Hallesches Ufer 34, 10963 BerlinThere are two marked parking spots in front of the building. Barrier-free restroom facilities are available. Four relaxed seats are available in the first row of HAU2. Tickets for wheelchair users and accompanying persons can also be booked via the ticketing system. If you need help, please contact our Ticketing & Service team at +49 (0)30 259004-27 or send us an email to
tickets@hebbel-am-ufer.de.
Latest information for arrival:
There is currently a construction site on Hallesches Ufer between Wilhelmstraße and Möckernbrücke underground station. There is a divided replacement route for pedestrians (right) and cyclists (left), which are separated by a yellow ground line. The carriageway is narrowed to one lane.
Travelling to HAU2 via U Hallesches Tor:
If you are coming from Hallesches Tor underground station, you will have to use an alternative footpath from Wilhelmstraße / Hallesches Ufer junction, which is separated from the carriageway by a construction fence – the actual footpath is currently closed. Please note: the alternative route is also used by cyclists. Pedestrians should keep to the right. We therefore currently recommend that visually impaired or blind visitors come to the HAU with an accompanying person.
Arrival HAU2 via U Möckernbrücke:
When you leave Möckernbrücke underground station, please stay on the footpath on the canal side until you reach Hallesches Ufer / Großbeerenstraße junction – the opposite side is currently closed due to construction work.
