Annual topic and cooperation 2025

the map is not the territory -                        
Constructs & Perception

Moving from the world’s current social and political situation, Germany and Turkey’s shared history, and the migration movements continuing into the new century, we come together to speak, discuss, confront, and create—reexamining the structures of our existing perceptions. Censorship, repression, and restrictive cultural policies highlight just how important it is to build bridges between these two countries.
Artistic work is increasingly under pressure from polarization, authoritarian tendencies, and conditions of violence. Yet, the counter-winds born from these oppressive forces should not be underestimated. Bridges woven through mutual support and solidarity are the road workers of tomorrow. Together with our partner Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası in      Istanbul, we will co-create an exchange in 2025 and 2026, shaped by a central question:

How can we meet at all – across difference, distance and perspective? 

How real is real? 

Our reality is not objective – it is told, interpreted, and constructed. Whether in Germany or Turkey, political narratives shape our thinking, form identities and influence how we live together. The sentence by Alfred Korzybski – “The map is not the territory” – captures it precisely: what we perceive as reality is always a model, shaped by language, history and cultural constructs. Paul Watzlawick once said: “There is no objective truth – only different versions of reality.” And Yuval Noah Harari reminds us that nations, religions, and corporations exist only because we collectively believe in them.

Our reality is made – and that means it can be changed. 

Who gets to speak – and who decides what may be said?

We live in a time that calls for a renewed examination of constructs, including our own cultural conditioning, as we question the very nature of reality itself. As artists from Turkey and Germany, our work centers on expressing a shared concern. In a world where public discourse is increasingly shaped by populism and polarization, critical voices face censorship, and public expression is tightly controlled.

Our Partners

Togetherwith Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası (ÇAK) – an independent arts collective based in Istanbul – we are bringing this collaboration to life. Since 2003, ÇAK has been shaping the contemporary dance and performance scene and engaging in international artistic partnerships. Together, we are creating a space for reflection and exchange – exploring perception, construction, and ambivalence.
  

Why Turkey – Why Germany and why now?
 

• Artistic Freedom
  How have independent cultural workers in Turkey sustained their creative practice for decades through countless inventive strategies? How is art being created across Europe and around the world? What does it truly mean for art to be free?
  
• Dialogue & Perception
  What images do we have of one another? What roles do media and history play?
  
• Cultural Connections
  Germany and Turkey are deeply connected through migration and a shared history. These relationships offer a ground for artistic engagement with existing narratives.