NEW INTERVIEW
Courtesy Cotter & Naessens Architects © Samuele Cherubini
Cotter-Naessens: “The Citizens’ Assembly is a model for information flow and decision-making that stands in contrast to online dynamics or social media.“
At the Biennale Architettura 2025 (May 10 – November 23), the Irish Pavilion presents Assembly, a multisensory installation aiming to reinterpret participatory democracy. Developed by Cotter & Naessens Architects in collaboration with sound artist David Stalling, architect and poet Michelle Delea, curator Luke Naessens, and woodworker Alan Meredith, the project created a space inspired by Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly. Since 2016, this Irish institution has brought together 99 selected citizens to discuss topics such as marriage equality or biodiversity, formulating recommendations for the government. Curator Luke Naessens: “We wanted to create a space that fosters genuine encounters between people, in contrast to online dynamics.”
The Assembly installation, showcased in Venice, is a circular, modular space crafted from Irish beechwood, processed by Meredith from storm-felled trees, complemented by a handwoven carpet from Ceadogán Rugmakers. A sound composition by Stalling and Delea incorporates Delea’s poem “Assembly,” which poetically reflects the creative process. “The poem is the heart of the installation, honoring Ireland’s tradition of the spoken word,” Cotter said in an interview with Alethea Talks.
The Citizens’ Assembly seeks to promote reflection and consensus in times of algorithm-driven disinformation. This concept could strengthen civic participation worldwide. In 2026, Assembly will tour Ireland, accompanied by Delea’s documentary film.
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23. June 2025
RECENT
Marilyn J. Roossinck: Viruses help us understand evolution because they evolve differently.
The Alethea Talks interview with Dr. Marilyn J. Roossinck, a renowned U.S. virologist with over 30 years of research experience, examines the complex role of viruses in evolution and the challenges of modern virology. Roossinck was a researcher at Cornell University and later taught in Oklahoma and at Penn State University. Known for her studies on virus ecology, such as the fungal virus from Yellowstone National Park that grants plants heat resistance, she has shaped public debate in the U.S. about viruses through articles in The Conversation and her book Virus: An Illustrated Guide to 101 Incredible Microbes (2016), particularly during the Corona period.
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June 16 2025
ZOE: „Die Hexe repräsentiert eine selbstbewusste Frau, die sich patriarchalen Normen widersetzt, was mich prägt.“
ZOE, mit bürgerlichem Namen Marie-Zoe Buchholz, ist eine interdisziplinäre Performance-Künstlerin und Kuratorin aus Düsseldorf, die mit ihrer Walpurgisnacht-Prozession am Theatermuseum die Geschichte der Hexenverfolgung aufgreift. Sie gilt als eine der führenden Figuren der deutschen Ballroom-Szene, gehört zur ersten Generation von Voguing-Performer*innen in Deutschland, war Gründungsmitglied des House of Melody (heute House of Saint Laurent) und ist die German Mother des internationalen House of Elle aus New York.
Ihre Walpurgisnacht-Prozession am Theatermuseum zog Hunderte an und zeigte das Bedürfnis nach spirituellen Gemeinschaftsritualen. ZOE plant, politisch-künstlerische Prozessionen mit afro-diasporischem Fokus fortzuführen. Dieses Interview ist ein Muss für alle, die sich für die #MeToo-Bewegung oder die Fälle Harvey Weinstein und Sean Combs interessieren.
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4. Juni 2025
Walker&Bromwich: “Hardly anyone in the UK knows about this important piece of labour history.“
The British artists Zoe Walker and Neil Bromwich have collaborated for over two decades, creating art that addresses societal and ecological issues. Their new exhibition, Searching for a Change of Consciousness, brings together works crafted to explore new ways of thinking and living. Their focus is to investigate the idea of a global shift in consciousness. A central work by the artists is Llechi A Llafur // Slate or State, which sheds light on the Great Penrhyn Strike (1900–1903) at the Penrhyn slate quarry in North Wales. This was the longest industrial dispute in British history. For Llechi A Llafur, they worked with former quarry workers, the Penrhyn Choir, and the local community in Bethesda to narrate the story of the strike and its generational trauma. The artists aim to make this largely forgotten history visible again, shaped by unjust working conditions, colonial exploitation, and the struggle for workers’ rights.
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12. Juni 2025
Bülent Mumay: “My greatest motivation is to write about our democracy and my profession and to defend them.”
In an exclusive Alethea Talks interview, Turkish journalist Bülent Mumay talks about his new book “Das kann mich hinter Gitter bringen: Letters from Istanbul” and his commitment to democracy and journalism in his home country of Turkey. Mumay is known for his work for Deutsche Welle and his column “Letter from Istanbul” as well as his podcast for the FAZ. After his second or third column in the FAZ, he was arrested for allegedly publishing reports critical of the government, but was released shortly afterwards. Despite ongoing risks, including a suspended 20-month prison sentence, he continues to write for German newspapers, exposing the looming threat of the “agent law”, which could see journalists working for foreign media jailed.
His story is a testimony to the resilience of journalists who stand up for the truth despite threats.
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28. May 2025
NEXT VOICES
Courtesy of the artist
NEXT VOICES
Loren Snyk: ‘Art is not only “being yourself”, but also improving taste’
Loren Snyk, an artist with a background in cyber security, combines technology, fashion and fine art in her work. Her work impresses with its innovative combination of artistic expression and multi-layered themes from the digital world. She holds a Master's degree in Information Technology from Harvard University and works as Director of Cloud Security. Themes such as stealth and hidden messages from cyber security are reflected in her artwork. Snyk uses mixed media techniques, incorporating fashion photography into her work.
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23. Mai 2025
Mella Shaw: "A Material Full of Metaphors"
With Sounding Line, artist Mella Shaw addresses the catastrophic impacts of shipping and sonar pollution on whale species, inspired by an alarming mass die-off on Scotland's coasts in 2018, when over a hundred dead whales washed ashore.
Shaw uses clay as a medium to raise awareness about the climate crisis. She incorporates the bone ash of a stranded whale into the ceramic, symbolizing the strength and fragility of the animals. Red marine ropes, hanging from above in the installation and resonating with sound vibrations from real sonar sources, allow viewers to physically experience the destructive effects.
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12. May 2025
Dominik Wullers: „Ich wollte Teil von etwas Spannendem sein“
Ein Gespräch über Bundeswehr, Identität und liberalen Patriotismus: In seinem Buch erzählt ein ehemaliger Bundeswehrsoldat, der mittlerweile Deutschland bei der NATO vertritt, von seinem ungewöhnlichen Lebensweg: Vom unsicheren Schulabgänger zum Absolventen von West Point und Harvard, von der Kleinstadt zur internationalen Bühne. Im Interview spricht er über die Beweggründe für seine Karriere, seine Erfahrungen im Militär und seine Vision eines liberalen Patriotismus, der Deutschland in Zeiten der Spaltung zusammenhalten kann.
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4. Mai 2025
Daniel Smith: ’I am pleased with the work, but also dream to realise projects on a larger scale.’
The Theatermuseum, aka Pink Palace, is one of the most exciting venues in Düsseldorf for the young creative scene, with a particular emphasis on the crossover scene. An absolute new discovery is Daniel Smith, the Canadian choreographer, performer, and artistic leader of his company Dans Myth. The world premiere of his creation ‘Sparkle Beasts’ took place at the museum last week. The piece deals with impactful or traumatic childhood memories, but aims not only to show the dark side, but also to inspire people to rise to new heights.
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18 April 2025
TRENDING
Jarosław Włodarczyk: “In the age of disinformation, we have the eyewitnesses, journalists who risk their lives.“
The war in Ukraine is more topical than ever. Negotiations are taking place in the political arena with daily headlines, but the war continues. The reporting and the terrible images of devastation have now become something almost commonplace. This exhibition should change that. ‘Eyes of War’ is the name of the international photo exhibition organised by the Polish Press Club, which shows photos by Polish war photographers, many of whom are international award-winning photographers. On its tour around the world, it also made a stop in Düsseldorf. Jarosław Włodarczyk, Secretary General of the International Association of Press Clubs and Polish publicist, and the multi-award-winning photographer Wojciech Grzędziński attended the opening in person at the Polish Institute.
The exhibition can be seen at the Polish Press Club from now until 26 September 2025. The new director of the Polish Institute, Rafael Sobzcak, recently organised an event to celebrate Poland's EU presidency. This was another evening centred on Ukraine.
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31 März 2025
Dr Bastian Fleermann: ‘From the first to the very last day in Düsseldorf, there was resistance from very courageous men and women, from very different directions.’
When the Second World War ended in 1945, it was a liberation for Europe and also for Germany. Today, Düsseldorf is home to the third-largest Jewish community in Germany. The Mahn- und Gedenkstätte, a museum dedicated to portraying this period in Düsseldorf, has initiated an extensive month-long programme to commemorate this event.
A large part of the interview is dedicated to the courageous men and women who formed the resistance in Düsseldorf. This resistance began with the seizure of power in 1933, and names such as Hermann Smeets, who made contact with the Americans in the final hours of the war when they were standing outside the city, are well known today. By making contact with the Americans, they were able to prevent further bombing and the city was handed over to the Allies without another shot being fired.
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17 Februar 2025
Sagarmatha Next Centre ©Tommy Gustafsson
Tommy Gustafsson: ‘Would they be willing to make a small contribution and carry a one-kilo bag of crushed plastic bottles?’
Tommy Gustafsson is a mountaineer, former CEO of sports marketing companies and founder of Sagarmatha Next, the world's highest museum. He and his co-founders develop highly innovative environmental concepts such as the Carry Me Back programme and have been able to recycle more than 25 tonnes of waste in the last two years. After decades of travelling to the region as a mountaineering tourist, Gustafsson became determined to solve the huge problem of pollution in the Sagarmatha region, the national park where Mount Everest is located. Together with two friends, they embarked on a major endeavour not only to build a museum in the middle of the national park, but also to develop complex concepts to solve the waste problems of the entire region.
19 November 2024
"Anything To Say?" by Davide Dormino
©Lucas Tiefenthaler
Davide Dormino "Standing up where the masses sit down."
On 25 June, a few days after the UK High Court hearing, Wikileaks and Stella Assange announced that Julian Assange had left Belmarsh prison and was heading for the airport to return to his home country Australia. The artist group Artists for Assange, founded in 2015, has been working alongside many people for years towards the release of Julian Assange. We had the great opportunity to talk to one of these artists, the Roman sculptor Davide Dormino, who created the world-famous sculpture "Anything To Say?".
Above all, art has the potential to emotionalise people all over the world. "Anything To Say?" is a life-size 930 kilo bronze sculpture depicting Edward Snowden, Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning, each standing on a chair. The fourth chair is empty because it invites visitors to play an active role. The sculpture premiered on Alexanderplatz in Berlin on 1 May 2015 and toured until 2023, visiting cities such as Geneva, Paris, London, Sydney and Melbourne.
Andrew Gold: ‘I hope my book will encourage people to stop judging other people because they have a different opinion.’
The English investigative journalist, podcaster and filmmaker Andrew Gold has published his first book, ‘The Psychology of Secrets’, published by Pan McMillan. Gold reaches millions of viewers with his YouTube channel, more than some daily newspapers. He is aware of his position and responsibility, says Gold in a personal interview, and is frank about his responsibility in social media and that of his many colleagues. Incidentally, he finds the current role of social media controversial due to the frequent lack of research, the lack of due diligence and the spread of fake news.
Freedom of the press
Often the subject of controversy, Gold's YouTube channel ‘Heretic’ is primarily dedicated to freedom of the press. Based on the stories he collected, Gold and his publisher crystallised a common denominator for the book: secrets. ‘The Psychology of Secrets’ is a fascinating book that analyses secrets on various levels, such as power, espionage, cults, and unearths incredible stories, such as that of Lord Brendan Bracken, Churchill's wartime Minister of Information and founder of the modern Financial Times. His book is about encouraging people not to pass judgement on other people, even if they have a different opinion. He came to the realisation that facts are more important than feelings, but they should not hurt people unnecessarily.
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1 October 2024
Mischa Kuball "My work stands for tolerance, enlightenment and interreligious coexistence."
In November 1938, the Great Synagogue in Kasernenstraße in Düsseldorf was set on fire. After the war, only 57 Jewish citizens returned to Düsseldorf and founded the Düsseldorf Jewish community. In 2023, events came in quick succession. 7 October led to demonstrations against Israel in the city and numerous declarations of support for the alliance with Israel from the city. On 2 November, an interfaith prayer for peace was held in front of Düsseldorf City Hall. Also, worth mentioning is the statement by the Mahn-und Gedenkstätte (memorial centre), which announced on its Instagram account that it also commemorates the victims of the people of Gaza.
The most significant project and probably also the most important art project in the city this year is the work "missing link_" by Düsseldorf artist Mischa Kuball. The previous grey memorial stone for the synagogue had long been felt to be inadequate. "missing link_" was switched on at 10.30 pm on 9 November at the corner of Kasernenstraße and Siegfried-Klein-Straße.
15. April 2024
TRENDING
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