ART IS NOT AN END IN ITSELF
In dialogue with the constructivist Asja Lācis

Curated by Konstanze Schmitt and Mimmi Woisnitza

Exhibition – Discourse – Performance

11.4.-28.6.2026

Art is not an end in itself connects the avant-garde practices of Latvian theater maker, educator, and revolutionary Asja Lācis with contemporary artistic, scientific, and activist perspectives. A rich program of discoursive and performative events and workshops will bring the exhibition to life during its course.

Artistic positions in space Chto Delat, Cinéma Copains, Contra Filé, Alice Creischer, Zhenya Efros, Inga Gaile, Anton Kats, Kollektiv Lauratibor, Karlheinz Mund, Mirja Reuter & Florian Gass, Elske Rosenfeld & Olia Sosnovskaya, Konstanze Schmitt, Luise Schröder, Andreas Siekmann, Theater o.N.

Performances Anna Stiede mit Panzerkreuzer Rotkäppchen, Bühnen zu Baustellen | Baustellen zu Bühnen, Christian Filips & Margarita Breitkreiz, Lauratibor Kiezchor, Meckerchor

Lectures & workshops Inga Gaile, Federico Geller, Tatjana Hofmann, Susan Ingram, Ewa Majewska, Olga Martynova, Luise Meier, Simone Niehoff, Beata Paškevica, Florian Thamer & Tina Turnheimu.a. 

Film program Krista Burāne, Payal Kapadia, Yulia Lokshina, Karlheinz Mund, Erwin Piscator, Marta Popivoda 

Scenography Philine Rinnert Graphic design Studio Rada B.

ANTIFASCIST WORKERS’ THEATRE Today

The theme of the opening weekend sets the tone for the exhibition and connects us directly with Asja Lācis' voice: What is to be done, how are we to act as cultural workers in times of crisis and war, of increasing authoritarian and fascist tendencies worldwide? Together, we will follow in the footsteps of Asja Lācis in a workshop with the help of a time-space machine and in lectures and performances, continuing to write her story into the present.

April 10, Friday

5 p.m. Opening

7 p.m. Welcome by Clara Herrmann (District Mayor), Stéphane Bauer (Director of Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien), Konstanze Schmitt, and Mimmi Woisnitza (curators)

9 p.m. Concert
Anti-fascist yodeling duo Esels Alptraum

April 11, Saturday

1–5 p.m. Raum/Zeit Lācis
An archival experimental cabinet. With Luise Meier, Simone Niehoff, Florian Thamer, Tina Turnheim, MimmWoisnitza (registration until 9.4. at asjalacis@posteo.de)

7 p.m. Experimental freedom
Antifascist future begins today, lecture by Ewa Majewska (English)

April 12, Sunday

2 p.m. Performance Walk
with Zhenya Efros, start: Kunstraum Kreuzberg (German/English)

5 p.m. Cyankali
Performance based on Friedrich Wolf by Anna Stiede with Panzerkreuzer Rotkäppchen (German) Location: Grüne Bühne, Hellersdorf, admission 10/5 euros.
Followed by an artist talk with Anna Stiede and Zhenya Efros (German/English)