What We Can Only See Together

With her exhibition Whispers, the artist Melike Kara transforms the Kunsthaus Hamburg into a gard en. Water flows from the walls and collects in basins. In some of them, plants are growing. Photographs and paintings are submerged within. A frieze of coffee grounds covers the walls. The scent of coffee wafts through the hall and the soft splashing of water can be heard. In this setting, Melike Kara invites us to simply observe and focus our attention on the little things.

Drawing on her Kurdish heritage, Melike Kara’s installation explores identity, memory and the constant process of change. Her work examines what connects people. She is interested in what happens when the stories we tell ourselves about our origins recede into the background.

In the workshop, the exhibition serves as a starting point for group discussions and artistic creation. Together with art educator Tessa Hinz, the participants explore the question of which narratives shape our ideas about origin and what happens when these stories recede into the background. Through this, they engage with themes such as memory, belonging and personal identity.

Through a combination of guided tour, discussion, teamwork and artistic exercises, the teenagers explore the installation, share their observations and perspectives, and experiment with various creative approaches. Their own experiences, memories and visions of the future can be incorporated into their individual works and brought to life. The workshop fosters critical thinking and individual artistic expression, whilst placing a particular emphasis on the power of community and collaboration.