"It feels like 5 to 33".

Genius Loci Weimar has already staged the Goethe House, the Bauhaus Museum, the German National Theatre, the former Gauforum and many other sites from Weimar's remarkable past. In late summer, from 30 August to 1 September 2024, one of Weimar's most internationally famous sites, the Buchenwald Memorial, erected on the Ettersberg in 1958 and visible from afar, got illuminated for three days.

During the festival weekend, state elections were held in several German states, including Thuringia. Throughout Europe, if not the world, we are witnessing a rise in strident populism, simplistic egotism and fueled resentment of the 'other'. Not entirely unaffected by current social and political events, Genius Loci, Weimar and Thuringia - on these days and from this location - sent an urgent and unmistakable message not to lose sight of the past and even less of the future.

The audio, light and video installations staged the architecture and objects of the memorial, which was erected as a national monument of the GDR near the ring graves of the Buchenwald concentration camp on the south side of the Ettersberg. They also attempt to break up its monumental tectonics and draw attention back to the people, the individuals. A particular focus was the question and search for a conscious, responsible and sustainable culture of remembrance: what is needed is less embarrassed silence and more sincere and visible empathy. A call for empathy, lived plurality and the courage to engage in discourse for a decisive public position.

 

Information about the event location can be found here.