WRITING OBJECTS
Literary Object Dialogues
Reading & Talk
September 18, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
Werkbundarchiv – Museum der Dinge
Leipziger Str. 54, 10117 Berlin
The reading is moderated by Celina Baljeet Basra & Isabel Raabe
An audio recording of the reading is accessible under this link from September 23.
A spatula, an electrical outlet, a kebab knife, a Rubik's cube, or an object called a Bärmutter: Twelve Berlin authors have explored objects from Berlin museum collections – the Werkbundarchiv – Museum der Dinge, the Kunstgewerbemuseum, and the Museum Europäischer Kulturen – through literature. The result is a collection of texts that is as multi-layered as the voices of the authors, oscillating between personal and collective memory.
What is this object for me, who am I for the object, and what can we be for each other?
Every observation is based on a relationship. And this begins even before the gaze meets the object. It begins with expectation, the psychology of museum architecture, and with entering the museum space, the interaction at the ticket office and at the entrance, with locating one's own body and individual role—guided by patience, attention, experience, and the desire to make an effort.
The authors immerse themselves in the rich archives of memory that each object carries within it. Through the authors' voices, the objects come a little closer and reveal some of their hidden knowledge to us, their viewers and listeners.
On September 18, nine of the twelve authors will present their texts at the Museum der Dinge and talk about their literary object dialogues.
Participating authors of WRITING OBJECTS:
Aida Baghernejad, Asal Dardan, Ciani-Sophia Hoeder, emet ezell, Lin Hierse, Emilia Roig, hn.lyonga & David Odiase, Joe Otim Dramiga, Lene Albrecht, Mithu Sanyal, and Sinthujan Varatharajah.
WRITING OBJECTS is curated by Celina Baljeet Basra and Isabel Raabe and is part of the TALKING OBJECTS LAB.
The artistic research project TALKING OBJECTS LAB is dedicated to the decolonization of knowledge and memory and unfolds in artist residencies, events, and exhibitions. It is curated by a German-Senegalese-Kenyan curatorial team.