Exhibitions
Slavs and Tatars: MERCZbau
05.05.2022 – 10.07.2022
Exhibition Summary
MERCZbau revisited the intertwined histories of the Ukrainian city of Lviv and the Polish city of Wroclaw as seen through the prism of a particularly eastern Orientalism. An installation featuring merchandise dedicated to a defunct Department of Oriental Studies offered a reflection on the shifting meanings of our enduring East/West divides and the human drama of migration, made so much more poignant by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
MERCZbau revisited the intertwined histories of the Ukrainian city of Lviv and the Polish city of Wroclaw as seen through the prism of a particularly eastern Orientalism. The Berlin-based artist collective created a speculative range of merchandising dedicated to the defunct Department of Oriental Studies of what was once known as the Jan Kazimierz University of Lwow, acting as if age-old traditions of scholarship and inquiry about “the East” had survived the Polish population’s forcible westward journey after World War II. The installation thereby offered a reflection on the human drama of migration as well as the shifting meanings of our enduring East/West divides, made so much more poignant by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The exhibition was made possible in part through a partnership with the Gray Center for Arts and Inquiry and Gray Center Fellow Leah Feldman. All proceeds from the sale of the merchandise were donated to the Scholars at Risk organization.
Curated by Dieter Roelstraete.
Installation photography by Robert Heishman. Event photography by Max Herman.
Gallery
Exhibition Narrative
Carousel with 3 slides shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate, or the slide dot buttons at the end to jump to slides.
Scholars of Eastern Europe Discuss Orientalism’s “History of Rupture” at Neubauer Collegium Event
Scholars of Eastern Europe Discuss Orientalism’s “History of Rupture” at Neubauer Collegium Event
The Chicago Maroon reports on the discussion which concluded our MERCZbau exhibition, exploring the history of Lviv as a multiethnic city, Eastern European linguistic identity, and the intersection ...
Reflecting on MERCZbau: Art and Human Rights in Ukraine
Discussion
Reflecting on MERCZbau: Art and Human Rights in Ukraine
This event explored shifting meanings and representations of the "East" amid the humanitarian crisis provoked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
These Artists Bring Pickles to the Party
These Artists Bring Pickles to the Party
This profile by The New York
Times explores Berlin-based collective Slavs and Tatars, creators of our MERCZbau exhibition, and their preoccupation with the languages,
history, politics, and religions ...
Orientalist Outfitters: A Review of Slavs and Tatars at the Neubauer Collegium
Orientalist Outfitters: A Review of Slavs and Tatars at the Neubauer Collegium
Newcity’s review of MERCZbau by Slavs & Tatars explores its counterfactual merchandise honoring Slavic Orientalism, its rich visual and linguistic play, and the exhibition’s response to the ...
Design Top 5: July 2022 (Newcity)
Design Top 5: July 2022 (Newcity)
Slavs and Tatars: Lecture Performance and Opening Reception
Exhibition Opening
Slavs and Tatars: Lecture Performance and Opening Reception
Payam Sharifi's lecture performance "I Utter Other," presented at the Oriental Institute in collaboration with the Renaissance Society, marked the opening of our latest gallery exhibition, MERCZbau. ...
Slavs and Tatars Consider the Legacy of Orientalism through Fashion
Slavs and Tatars Consider the Legacy of Orientalism through Fashion
Slavs and Tatars’ timely exhibition MERCZbau revisits the intertwined histories of the Ukrainian city of Lviv and the Polish city of Wroclaw from the perspective of a specifically eastern ...
Carousel with 3 slides shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate, or the slide dot buttons at the end to jump to slides.
Carousel with 3 slides shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate, or the slide dot buttons at the end to jump to slides.
Scholars of Eastern Europe Discuss Orientalism’s “History of Rupture” at Neubauer Collegium Event
Scholars of Eastern Europe Discuss Orientalism’s “History of Rupture” at Neubauer Collegium Event
The Chicago Maroon reports on the discussion which concluded our MERCZbau exhibition, exploring the history of Lviv as a multiethnic city, Eastern European linguistic identity, and the intersection ...
Orientalist Outfitters: A Review of Slavs and Tatars at the Neubauer Collegium
Orientalist Outfitters: A Review of Slavs and Tatars at the Neubauer Collegium
Newcity’s review of MERCZbau by Slavs & Tatars explores its counterfactual merchandise honoring Slavic Orientalism, its rich visual and linguistic play, and the exhibition’s response to the ...
Design Top 5: July 2022 (Newcity)
Design Top 5: July 2022 (Newcity)
Carousel with 3 slides shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate, or the slide dot buttons at the end to jump to slides.
Reflecting on MERCZbau: Art and Human Rights in Ukraine
Discussion
Reflecting on MERCZbau: Art and Human Rights in Ukraine
This event explored shifting meanings and representations of the "East" amid the humanitarian crisis provoked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Carousel with 3 slides shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate, or the slide dot buttons at the end to jump to slides.
These Artists Bring Pickles to the Party
These Artists Bring Pickles to the Party
This profile by The New York
Times explores Berlin-based collective Slavs and Tatars, creators of our MERCZbau exhibition, and their preoccupation with the languages,
history, politics, and religions ...
Carousel with 3 slides shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate, or the slide dot buttons at the end to jump to slides.
Slavs and Tatars: Lecture Performance and Opening Reception
Exhibition Opening
Slavs and Tatars: Lecture Performance and Opening Reception
Payam Sharifi's lecture performance "I Utter Other," presented at the Oriental Institute in collaboration with the Renaissance Society, marked the opening of our latest gallery exhibition, MERCZbau. ...
Carousel with 3 slides shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate, or the slide dot buttons at the end to jump to slides.
Slavs and Tatars Consider the Legacy of Orientalism through Fashion
Slavs and Tatars Consider the Legacy of Orientalism through Fashion
Slavs and Tatars’ timely exhibition MERCZbau revisits the intertwined histories of the Ukrainian city of Lviv and the Polish city of Wroclaw from the perspective of a specifically eastern ...
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