March 27th, 2019 at 8:00 p.m.
Bureau Europa, platform for architecture and design
Maastricht (NL)
Identity: An Artistic Representation by Thomas Stratman and Christopher Meerdo
As part of the Final Conference of E-WORDS, FaSos and Bureau Europa will show how Identity can be artistically represented.
On display works by visual artist Christopher Meerdo (US), documentary filmmakers Alina Schmuch and Franca Scholz (D), researcher/ designer Thomas Stratmann (D) and architect Joram Raaijmakers (NL).
Their works examines notions of the totalitarian state, ostracism, prejudice, borders, oppression, and discrimination in the context of European identity.
The exhibition will be opened by a debate.
According to American sociologist Neil Fligstein, our idea of who we are is framed in response to a group of ‘Others’.
However, this us/them dichotomy is also used and abused by totalitarian regimes, both past and present, to maintain structures of control, oppression, and ostracism.
During the debate , the us/them dichotomy will be examined through the lens one of the most urgent issues in Europe today: migration.
Saskia van Stein Director Bureau Europa and Huib Haye van der Werf program manager at Jan van Eyck Academy, will moderate the debate between social scientist Dr Aline Sierp (UM), designer Thomas Stratmann, political scientist Prof. Maarten Vink (UM), visual artist/activist Christopher Meerdo, and coordinator refugee centers for the province of Limburg Luc Winants.
Image: Thomas Stratmann, The Arson Archive