Democratic Memory

City, spaces and architecture of memory is a course on the city and the various layers of its memory. Run by Kathrin Golda-Pongratz, it offers an opportunity to see the city from a different angle, to encourage greater involvement in present memories in urban spaces.

Sessions:

Urban memory: central concepts, ideas and theoretical and action approaches

Thursday, 16 February, at 7 pm

The session offers an extensive panorama on policies, debates and artistic and civil concepts of memory in Europe and America. It familiarises participants with contemporary theories and opens up discussions and debates on conflicts that can arise in spaces where collective memories are not always harmoniously shared.

Art of memory in public spaces

Thursday, 23 February, at 7 pm

Chilean artist Fernando Prats and Catalan artist Antoni Muntadas address memories in spaces in very different ways and employing very powerful concepts and techniques. We shall start with several of their projects and work methods to discuss the potential of art in expressing memories in public spaces.

“Fissures in space”: urban memory in Latin American mega-cities. A view from Germany

Thursday, 2 March, at 7 pm

Dr Anne Huffschmid, a researcher and journalist, is our guest speaker that will be touching on a poignant reality in Latin America: the development of memory policies and spaces on their recent and current violent conflicts and the lack of recognition of vernacular memories in marginal neighbourhoods.

Towards new urban planning for memory

Thursday, 9 March, at 7 pm

The session consists of an urban visit and a closing debate from the seminar dedicated to urban memories in Barcelona. It proposes strategies and possible lines towards a “memory urban planning” that contextualises commemorative spaces in the most extensive area in the city.