TAKE a SEAT. MAKE a SHIFT

de_colonialanguage

Exhibition by de_colonialanguage collective ️ 20 September - 18 October 2025

Kulturfabrik Moabit

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNfgLY6ihMz" title="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNfgLY6ihMz" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">TAKE a SEAT. MAKE a SHIFT</a>📍 Exhibition and a Series of Circulation Events by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/de_colonialanguage/" title="https://www.instagram.com/de_colonialanguage/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">de_colonialanguage collective</a> + <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nikarkay/" title="https://www.instagram.com/nikarkay/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Irina Denkmann</a>🗓️ 20 September - 18 October 2025📍 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kulturfabrikmoabit/" title="https://www.instagram.com/kulturfabrikmoabit/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Kulturfabrik Moabit</a>, Lehrter Str. 35, 10557 Berlin🎟️ Free Entry Exhibition opening hours: Fridays: 18:00-22:00 Saturdays and Sundays: 15:00-22:00Imagination on institutions has collapsed.In these ruins remained questions, disappointments, shifts in strategies, and wonderful tactics of collectivity. While institutions of various sizes measure themselves against their degree of (un)entanglement in wars and war crimes, grassroots collectives engage in anti-war imagination, practices of resistance, and alternative ways of life beyond media-fabricated ‘truths.’ Between the dystopian reality of institutions and the absent utopia lies a space for mutual care and collective practices. If ‘reality’ is occupied by colonial and capitalist fantasies, then the space of collectivity we are speaking of is not a reality—it is life itself.How can we think in terms of social space rather than (un)social institutions?We invited artists, collectives, and friends who work with the issue of decoloniality (not post-, but de-) in the spaces of Central and North Asia, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe. The following activities were our guiding moons: openness to collective and community-based practices, a decolonial focus, feminist perspectives, multilingualism, and OtherArchives. The most important feature is CO: COmaking, COllaboration, COthinking, COdimensionalityThere is ‘no’ Institution and ‘no’ Artist. There are different practices blending all those ‘no’s into shifting imaginaries of the practice of being not lonely human beings today.The exhibition TAKE aSEAT. MAKE aSHIFT aims to bring together a series of projects targeting the discrepancy between words and deeds, the dysfunction of institutional representation, and the knowledge shortcomings. Throughout these series of Circulation-events, the logic of taking a SEAT has shifted. The analysis has moved from the idea of searching for a place to exist at the beginning, to reflecting on the act of occupying a place, where seating together, claiming the right to write one’s own story, and radical collectivity are placed on the same page.We are focusing on the well needed shift from institutional imagination to collective practices and tools.This journey had an early start with a series of interventions in March 2025 in Frankfurt in the project TAKE aSEAT dedicated to migrants and exclusion of us from the societies of nation-states. A topic covered with shame, with different -washings (art-, white-, pink-, green-, human-). But in the meantime, it’s swelling more and more. We have to take a seat and talk against all odds.During five residencies Voices Otherwise (May-October, 2025) in the Open Air Museum of Decoloniality (Alexanderplatz, Berlin) we thought of representation and the fair knowledge production of narratives previously overlooked in the course of russian, soviet and western colonial institutional machinery. Here, artists in collaboration with de_colonialanguage collective practice presented their thoughts and tactics of collective resistance to eradication of their alternative archives. It was a cooperative process of searching for and creating tools to address complex issues that are of little interest to institutions but are critically important to communities.What are imaginary institutions? How to develop our independent Publishing Programme? How can we learn in a non-academic way, when colonial systems of knowledge fail us? Where to find this co(un)learning space? How can a social network be built and, more importantly, sustained? How can we see voices that have explored and confronted colonial strategies across many many translocal spaces?Such questions, practices and tools are the focus of TAKE aSEAT. MAKE aSHIFT project. The functions that shape language and sociality, which still largely belong to institutions—the production of knowledge, spaces for exchange and conversation, memory, the formation of communities—are increasingly returning to the communities themselves, to activists, artists, independent researchers, and often these practices are collective. We note this shift and invite you to take a closer look at this phenomenon and develop a conversation around it.Artists<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ani_menua/" title="https://www.instagram.com/ani_menua/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Ani Menua</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bouillon_by_bouillon_/" title="https://www.instagram.com/bouillon_by_bouillon_/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Bouillon Group</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/de_colonialanguage/" title="https://www.instagram.com/de_colonialanguage/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">de_colonialanguage collective</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eldar_tagi/" title="https://www.instagram.com/eldar_tagi/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Eldar Tagi</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ttapogii/" title="https://www.instagram.com/ttapogii/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Lena Pozdnyakova</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/leoefet/" title="https://www.instagram.com/leoefet/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Leo Efet</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ler__oy/" title="https://www.instagram.com/ler__oy/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Leroy Berger</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/maqaal.collective/" title="https://www.instagram.com/maqaal.collective/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">maqaal collective</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/5zira/" title="https://www.instagram.com/5zira/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Nazira Saduaqas</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wishious/" title="https://www.instagram.com/wishious/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Nilufer Musaeva</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/spotskhver/" title="https://www.instagram.com/spotskhver/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Salome Potskhverashvili</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/viktoriiasaltar/" title="https://www.instagram.com/viktoriiasaltar/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Viktoriia Şăltăr</a> 🕰️ Circulation Program:Saturday, 20 September 2025 at 17:00: Opening Reception 🗓️ Open to the public on/opening hours:20-21 September26-27 September3-5 October10–12 October17–18 October September 2017:00 Opening Ceremony20:00 Eldar Tagi live performanceSeptember 2115:00 Trinketing, ceremony by Nilufer Musaeva17:00 Transindigenous Assembly, film screening with film director Joulia Strauss 18:30 Discussion with Joulia Strauss, moderated by vica kravtsovaSeptember 2417:00 Guided Tour over exhibition TAKE aSEAT. MAKE aSHIFT19:00 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNxr3V5WmOb/" title="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNxr3V5WmOb/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Jakutisches Filmfestival</a> Silis documentary film by Diana Khudaeva, screening20:00 Open conversation with film authors on the phenomenon of Sakha (Yakut) cinema, moderated by Anna MalginaSeptember 2717:00 GRASP a SEAT book presentation + conversation with Liz Rech, Irina DenkmannSeptember 28 17:30 HOW TO SPELL EMPIRE/ film &amp; discussion with Markus Schlaffke, Leila AlmazоvaOctober 118:00 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOaf6-tiIdd/" title="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOaf6-tiIdd/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">alla popp, Voices Otherwise residency at !Alexanderplatz!</a>October 416:00 Thinking together on decolonisation and border abolitionism, anarchismand migration / Marina Israilova and Nearby Reading Room workshopOctober 515:00 Tongues of Belongings workshop by de_colonialanguageOctober 818:00 the current state of Indigenous peoples in russia and their struggle against russian colonialism and war, book presentation: сollection of papers by independent Indigenous decolonial activists and researchers/ with Ziliä Qansurá and Igor Sivtsev19:00 Conversation with independent projects "re.public_speaking" and "O rodnom" / Dankhaiaa Khovalyg and collective reading20:00 Slaystans dances at Slaughterhaus/ Kulturfabrik MoabitOctober 1018:00 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOaf6-tiIdd/" title="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOaf6-tiIdd/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">alla popp, Voices Otherwise residency presentation</a>October 1117:00 (horizontal/self-organized) Resistance / fish-bowl discussion with Udi Raz, Tinatin GurgenidzeOctober 12 15:00 workshop by lena pozdnyakova17:00 Radical Collectivity: possibilities and limits / fish-bowl discussion with Bakai Abdykul uulu (Slaystans), Moritz Gansen (diffrakt | zentrum für theoretische peripherie) and Gvantsa from IN THE MOUNTAINS (Untitled Tbilisi)October, 1717:00 Mixed Identities / fish-bowl discussion with Marina Israilova,Marina Solntseva, Ksti HuOctober, 1817:00 closing ceremony19:30 poetry readings by vica kravtsova, Marina Solntseva20:30 performance by Kreolex zentreGraphic Design: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sukhova_anya/" title="https://www.instagram.com/sukhova_anya/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Anna Sukhova</a>Team: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/denisesakov/" title="https://www.instagram.com/denisesakov/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Denis Esakov</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nikarkay/" title="https://www.instagram.com/nikarkay/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Irina Denkmann</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/solnzewa.marina/" title="https://www.instagram.com/solnzewa.marina/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Marina Solntseva</a>, Maja Esakova, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gonserovskayaolesya/" title="https://www.instagram.com/gonserovskayaolesya/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Olesya Gonserovskaya</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arigolla_art" title="https://www.instagram.com/arigolla_art" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Saahan Arigolla</a>Contact: de.colonialanguage@gmail.comInstagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/de_colonialanguage" title="https://instagram.com/de_colonialanguage" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">@de_colonialanguage</a>Publishing Platform: <a href="https://syg.ma/@de_colonialanguage" title="https://syg.ma/@de_colonialanguage" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">syg.ma/@de_colonialanguage</a> 🪑 Take a seat.🔁 Make a shift. with the kind support of:Zukunftsstiftung Mensch und Gesellschaft (GLS Treuhand) and Dialogbüro Viennaworkshop "Beyond the Surface and Into the Depth": BVRE e.V.residency Voices Otherwise funded by the State of Berlin (Bezirkskulturfonds Mitte)<a href="https://www.instagram.com/dialogbuero.vienna/?hl=en" title="https://www.instagram.com/dialogbuero.vienna/?hl=en" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Dialogbüro Vienna</a>

Agenda

September 20  Opening Ceremony

September 20 Eldar Tagi live performance

September 21 15:00 Trinketing, ceremony by Nilufer Musaeva

September 21 Transindigenous Assembly, film screening with Joulia Strauss

September 21 Discussion with Joulia Strauss, moderated by vica kravcova

September 24 Guided Tour over exhibition TAKE aSEAT. MAKE aSHIFT

September 24 Jakutisches Filmfestival Silis documentary film

September 24 Open conversation with film authors

September 27 GRASP a SEAT book presentation + conversation 

September 28 Film “HOW TO SPELL EMPIRE”/with Markus Schlaffke & Leila Almazоva

October 1 alla popp, Voices Otherwise residency at !Alexanderplatz!

October 4 Thinking together on decolonisation and border abolitionism

October 5 Tongues of Belongings workshop by de_colonialanguage

October 8 the current state of Indigenous peoples in russia/ book presentation

October 8 19:00 Conversation with projects "re.public_speaking" and "O rodnom"

October 8  Slaystans dances at Slaughterhaus/ Kulturfabrik Moabit

October 10  alla popp, Voices Otherwise residency presentation

October 11 (horizontal/self-organized) Resistance / fish-bowl discussion

October 12 15:00  workshop by lena pozdnyakova

October 12 Radical Collectivity: possibilities and limits

October 17 Mixed Identities / fish-bowl discussion 

October 18 closing ceremony 

October 18  poetry readings by vica kravtsova, Marina Solntseva

October 18 performance by Kreolex zentre

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TAKE a SEAT. MAKE a SHIFT

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TAKE a SEAT. MAKE a SHIFT

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