January 20, 2017
A day where I was floored by a documentary exhibit on the judicial fates of Nazi perpetrators, prepared by folks from the commemorative site of the concentration camp Neuen Gamme and displayed at the Hamburg town hall. I will report on this in more depth later; suffice it to say that many of the death sentences for camp SS wo/men were never enacted, many of the prison sentences commuted, and those in prison released in 1955/56 as a condition to join NATO.
A day where I watched the inaugural address live on TV, shivering over the anti-semitic word choice of America First and, more generally, nauseated by the nationalism and populism.
A day where I’ll spend the night in some ritzy hotel near the airport to fly home tomorrow – wondering if I will have the strength to join the women’s march in PDX shortly after my arrival, having to get up at 3:30 am.
A day where I am thinking how an artist can contribute to fight normalization of the unspeakable.
I’ve learned about several exemplary women artists during this trip, all of whom defied convention and pursued change. I had reported on Paula Becker Modersohn already, but also encountered Dorothea Tanning again (wife of Max Ernst) a truly innovate Dadaist, Leonor Fini who I fell in love with, and Leonora Carrington (I had never heard of the latter two.) They were part of a terrific exhibition on surrealism in the Hamburger Kunsthalle, with large parts of the exhibition displaying works from private collections, true discoveries.
And then there was Leonore Mau, exhibited at the Museum im Jenisch Park, a first rate woman photographer, fearless as they come, traveling in pursuit of honest documentation of the world until the age of 97.
Someone else has better words than I for why we need to have these artists, support these artists, be these artists in the years to come. I admire him as a friend, as a journalist, as a learned, thoughtful man and am glad that his writing below can lift the darkness hanging over all of us on this January 20th, 2017.
http://www.orartswatch.org/the-poisoned-art-of-donald-trump/
Bob Hicks
Thank you for linking to “poisoned art,” Friderike. Your posts are invaluable: let’s keep telling stories. And I’m looking forward to investigating some of these artists.
Steve Tilden
Fantastic essay! Posted by Bob Hicks, that mean he wrote it?
I’m forwarding to Nora Eskes, and to you something she sent.
Gloria
Thank you for the link to Bob Hicks’ article, except I am crying again on this abysmal day. Safe journey home, do not push, we will be at the march tomorrow for you, and I selfishly want to see you on Thursday.
Eric Brody
Friderike, your words ring true, sadly. I have been able to escape by choosing to no longer be a news “junkie,” I cannot stand his voice or orange face. It depresses me to no longer avidly read the Times or listen to NPR for fear of hearing him or a comment about him. I know we must stand up and fight back as so many courageous women (and men) are doing all over the country on this day. Fortunately, we are out of the country for inauguration day as we were on election day, having voted weeks before. I find myself trying to explain to otherwise cheerful Kiwi’s how our country could have turned so badly. I read your posts with anticipation even when they reflect sadness. Thanks.