Art in resistance: The 13th Berlin Biennale demands freedom and justice!

Art in resistance: The 13th Berlin Biennale demands freedom and justice!

The 13th Berlin Biennale opened on June 13, 2025 under the motto "pass on the fleeting". This significant art event shows works by 60 artists from almost 40 countries. Many of the exhibits address the challenges and fights with which artists are faced with adverse conditions such as torture, captivity or war. The Biennale takes place at four locations in Berlin: art works, Sophiensælen, Hamburg train station and a former courthouse in Berlin-Moabit, and will be shown until mid-September. Entry is 16 euros, reduced 8 euros.

An outstanding example of the thematic depth of the Biennale is the installation "Burning Speeches" by the Indian artist Amol K Patil, which appeals current social problems. Zasha Colah, the curatorial director of the Biennale, emphasizes the importance of art in authoritarian systems and expresses her concerned attention to the political situation in Myanmar, India and Germany. HTEIN LIN, another artist from Myanmar, unfortunately cannot take part in the opening because he was not issued a passport. Lin created his prison paintings on sheets and illegally smuggled them out of prison.

a focus on human rights and social justice

The Biennale also often treats overlooked conflicts, such as the war in Sudan and the political crisis in the Philippines. Public judicial forums take place in this context to discuss human rights violations in these regions. An impressive work of art is a huge bra from an Argentine collective of women who focuses on patriarchal power. Another campaign, "Panties for Peace", uses underwear as a symbolic remedy in the peaceful struggle against the military in Myanmar, which makes the connection between art and social criticism clear.

In addition, the Biennale offers interactive elements, including a video game in which dictators can be thrown at underpants. The format not only promotes dialogue about art, but also on the topics that society currently employ. Personal encounters with the artists, including lectures and tours, give visitors a deeper insight into the motivation and the background of the exhibited work. A special highlight will be the comedy club of the Bosnian artist Mila Panić, which provides further access to the topics of the Biennale

Zasha Colah: A curator with vision

Zasha Colah, who took over the management of the Biennale in 2025, is an Indian curator and writer with extensive experience in the art scene. Your approach reflects your examination of artistic forms of expression under conditions persistent oppression. In the past, Colah has curated numerous challenging projects and is a co -founder of the Clark House Initiative, which deals with topics such as freedom and human rights. Your doctoral thesis deals with the structures of permanent oppression and cultural forms of expression of civil disobedience in your homeland and in Africa.

Colah has been living between Berlin and Turin for eight years and follows the credo "life -tense despite permanent tyranny". In the selection of artists and the exhibits, she used an international selection committee that combines a variety of perspectives and experiences in order to design a relevant and appealing Biennale. Your choice as curator follows a scandal about another candidate from Kalkutta and shows the trust that is put into its ability to lead the event to new creative heights.

The 13th Berlin Biennale not only presents works of art, but also acts as a platform for important social dialogue and critical reflection on the current challenges of the global art scene.