about
| balzar [ a t ] uni – potsdam . de Dr Christoph Balzar (he/him) is an art scholar, project manager and cultural worker based in Berlin. He curates exhibitions in both physical and virtual space with a focus on museum collections, European colonialism and German memory politics. In his artistic and scholarly practice, Balzar explores community-oriented art practices in terms of their political potential to drive social change. #museums #archives #collections #collectives #heritage #postcolonialtheory #identitypolitics and #memorypolitics #transmodernism #aestheticeducation #culturaleducation #arteducation #visualcommunication #photography |
| teaching 2023: Potsdam Summer School, »Identity Project« Space WS20/21–WS22/23: research associate/lecturer at the University of Potsdam, Faculty of Humanities, »Aesthetic Education«, »Art«, and »Art Theory« in the research cluster „Images of History in Contemporary Art“ (www.GBGK.de) WS19/20: a teaching position at the University of the Arts Berlin, Class for Time-Based Media and Performance, Faculty II SoSe 19: a teaching position at the University of the Arts Berlin, Class for Time-Based Media and Performance, Faculty II (www.WasistIntersektionalitaet.de) March 2017: »Curating the Sacred Less Secular«, a workshop for the „Museo Pacha Milli“ in Pasto, Colombia (www.PachaMilli.com) 2014-2018: lecturer for curatorial studies at the Creative Service Center Berlin SoSe 13–WS13/14: guest lecturer at the University of Potsdam, Moses Mendelssohn Center, and project leader for the working group »AG Magen David« with Dr Elke Vera Kotowski February 2013: lecturer at the ARTWert Winter Campus: „Art Education in Museums“ in cooperation with the German Historical Museum November 2012: „Making Museums“, a curatorial workshop for the „Museo Pacha Milli“ in Pasto, Colombia (www.PachaMilli.com) 2012–2018: lecturer at ARTWert Berlin for museum and art education SoSe 12: guest instructor at the University of Siegen, Faculty II, Art: „The Dahlem Museum Laboratory.“ May 2012: lecture performance with Katja Jedermann, Institute for Art in Context, the University of the Arts Berlin at the Galerie im Ratskeller Berlin: „Who Controls the Museum Controls History.“ WS11/12: guest lecturer at the University of the Arts Berlin, Faculty II with Dr Birte Kleine-Benne: „Post-colonial perspectives.“ 2010-2013: series of lecture performances as part of the „Dahlem Museum Laboratory.“ education Dec. 2021 disputation of dissertation: „Diskriminierungskritische Studien zur Musealisierung von Heiligtümern lebender Kulturen aus kolonialen Erwerbszusammenhängen“, Kunsthistorisches Institut der Rheinischen Friedrich Wilhelms-Universität Bonn May 2018 Four-week long course as a diversity trainer with Patty Digh and Victor Lee Lewis 2014 begin of dissertation in museum theory: „Diskriminierungskritische Studien zur Musealisierung von Heiligtümern lebender Kulturen aus kolonialen Erwerbszusammenhängen [AT]“, Prof. Dr. Anne-Marie Bonnet; Prof. Dr. Michael Fehr, Kunsthistorisches Institut der Rheinischen Friedrich Wilhelms-Universität Bonn Oct.–Dec. 2011 Field research in a Kágaba/Kogi community, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia 2009–2011 M.A. in Artistic Museum Studies: „The museum as an agent of cultural reproduction“, Prof. Dr Michael Fehr, Institute for Art in Context, University of the Arts Berlin 2008 training in „Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Care“, Wiradjuri community of Katoomba, NSW, Australia, Ceane Towers 2000–2005 diploma in Visual Communication, University of Applied Sciences Aachen: „Uluru“, Prof. Wilhelm Schürmann 2004 exchange studies in Aboriginal Cultures and Philosophies at UTS Technical University of Sydney, Australia, Dr Karen Vaughan March–Aug. 2004 research in the Anangu community, Northern Territories and the Wiradjuri community, NSW, Australia June 2003 research in Montignac, France, „The Paintings of Lascaux II“, Prof. Siegfried Ijewski, University of Applied Sciences Aachen career Dec. 2020 co-founder of »BARAZANI.berlin – Forum Kolonialismus und Widerstand«; curator for virtual spaces, www.BARAZANI.berlin 2017–2021 chairman of »Förderverein Kunst im Kontext« of the »Institut für Kunst im Kontext«, Universität der Künste Berlin, <www.art-in-context.org> Apr. 2016 consultant and project manager for the »Union des Cultes Traditionnels du Togo in Agoueguan-Aneho, Togo, www.UCTT-Togo.org Jan. 2015 co-founder and chairman of the NGO »Dezentral e.V.: Für ein Kolonialismusmahnmal im Herzen Berlins!«, www.kolonialismus-mahnmal.de since Feb. 2014 curator at the »Museo Pacha Milli«, Pasto, Colombia, www.PachaMilli.com Nov. 2013 co-founder of the museum research group »FLOORPLAN«, Art History Institute of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn www.FLOOPRLAN-research.com Oct.–Dec. 2013 photographer for the artist Julie Gough, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge, University/Contemporary Art Tasmania and Curator Khadija von Zinnenburg Carroll Jul.–Aug. 2013 curatorial residency at „Heimathaus Weltengeist“, Stiefenhofen, Germany, project: »No es arte.« Jul. 12–Feb. 13 mediator/consultant in the dispute over „La Abuela Kueka / The Global Stone Project“ with RAin Claudia von Selle between the Government of Venezuela (on behalf of the Pemón people) and the artist Wolgang Kraker von Schwarzenfeld Mar. 2012 project manager »No es arte. – Tairona and Kogi heritage“, Santa Marta, Colombia since Jan. 2010 chairman of the NGO »Culture & Development e.V. (developmental aid for Europe)« Mar. 2009 co-founder of the NGO »Culture & Development e.V. (developmental aid for Europe)«, www.CultureandDevelopment.org 2005 – 2008 photographer/assistant for the Schürmann Collection conferences Jun. 2019 conceptualization/realization of the conference: »UN-DOING ART HISTORY? together with FLOORPLAN, Department of Art History, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn Oct. 2017 conceptualization/realization/moderation of the panel discussion „WESSEN ERBE?“ at the »Institute for Art in Context«, amongst others with Messanh Amedegnato, Martin Schmidl and Michael Fehr Feb. 2017 conceptualization/realization/moderation of the »FLOORPLAN World Café«, Art History Institute, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn Mar. 2016 conceptualization/realization/moderation of the FLOORPLAN conference »WHOSE HERITAGE?«, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn Oct. 2015 speaker at the „Conference of the German Society for Anthropology“, Philipps University Marburg: »No es arte. – Tayrona and Kágaba/Kogi Heritage« Jun. 2015 speaker at the »Herrenhausen Symposium: Positioning Ethnographic Museums in the 21st Century«, Volkswagen Foundation, Hannover Mar. 2015 speaker at the symposium of the feminist collective »ƒƒ«: »Für ein Kolonialismusmahnmal im Herzen Berlins!«, DEZENTRAL e.V. Feb. 2015 conceptualization/organisation of the FLOORPLAN conference: »Transformations. Museum and Art History«; Art History Institute of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn Jun. 2014 conceptualization/moderation of the FLOORPLAN workshop: »Artistic research in the museum – knowledge production and knowledge transfer between art and science«; 8th Berlin Biennale, Dahlem Museums Oct. 2013 speaker at »The Possessed Past Symposium«: „Artists and Ethnographers“, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge exhibitions Jan. 22 »art + school«, an exhibition with students of Potsdam University (Aesthetic Education) and »ISD – Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland e. V.«, Kunstraum Potsdam Dec. 2020 opening of »BARAZANI.berlin« Apr. 20 »Imprinted Matter« – an exhibition with students of the project »Intersectional Matter« and the Time-based Media and Performance class of the University of the Arts Berlin at the »Museum of Photography Berlin. « Aug. 19 »Better TogetHER« – an exhibition with students of the project »Intersectional Matter« and the class »Time-based Media and Performance«, University of the Arts Berlin Feb. 19 »40 Years of Art in Context – Part 2«, ngbk Neue Gesellschaft für Bildende Künste, Berlin Nov. 18 »40 Years of Art in Context – Part 1«, University of the Arts Berlin Apr. 18 »Bordered Lives – Art by British Deportation Centers Detainees« at the Bonavero Institute for Human Rights Jan. 18 presentation of »Le Portrait de Chabassi Amadossi, Grand Guerrisseur et Spiritualist«, Voodoo Festival of Benin in Quidah, Benin Oct. 2017 Opening of the »Museo Pacha Milli«, Pasto, Colombia; www.PachaMilli.com Jan.–Mar. 2017 project manager for the Union des Cultes Traditionnels du Togo and the Voudou Festival in Agoueguan-Aneho, Togo; www.UCTT-Togo.org July 16 »Museum Lab Dahlem«, Weinmeisterhaus Berlin Aug. 16 artistic research workshop: System constellation of the conflict between the Museo del Oro and Kogi Mamas from Colombia – Part 2; »No es arte.« – with Hanune Shalati and Ingrid Mesin, Weinmeisterhaus Berlin July 15 artistic research workshop: System constellation of the conflict between the Museo del Oro and Kogi Mamas from Colombia – Part 2; »No es arte.« – with Hanune Shalati and Ingrid Mesin, Weinmeisterhaus Berlin June 15 exhibition »Haba Sé« at „Heimathaus Weltengeist“, Stiefenhofen, Germany in cooperation with the Museo Pacha Milli, www.PachaMilli.com Oct. 14 exhibition »No es arte.« at the Latin American Film Festival during the Berlinale 2014 with Hanune Shalati July 14 Performance walk »No es arte.« with Hanune Shalati at the Ethnological Museum Dahlem, Berlin: »Wie man dem Sammler die Bilder erklärt III« May 14 »Für ein Kolonialismusmahnmal im Herzen Berlins«, exhibition during »Postcolonial Justice. International Conference, Potsdam and Berlin«, www.Kolonialismus-Mahnmal.de May 14 Intervention »Für ein Kolonialismusmahnmal im Herzen Berlins« during the 8th Berlin Biennale, Berlin Dahlem Apr 14 »Für ein Kolonialismusmahnmal im Herzen Berlins«, KUNSTSAELE Berlin, exhibition: THE MISSING, curated by Lukas Töpfer Feb. 2014 Performance walk »No es arte.« with Hanune Shalati at the Museum of Ethnology, Munich: »Wie man dem Sammler die Bilder erklärt II« May 13 Performance Walk »No es arte« with Hanune Shalati at the British Museum, London:»Wie man dem Sammler die Bilder erklärt I« Jan. 12 »No es arte. – Tairona and Kogi Heritage“, Museum der Dinge, Berlin with Hanune Shalati July 11 »No es arte. – Tairona and Kogi Heritage“ at the University of the Arts Berlin Rundgang – Out of Context: »Entre Memorias y Possibilidades« Sept. 10 »Museum Laboratory Dahlem«, Homebase Project Berlin Jan. 10 »Museum Laboratory Dahlem«, Institute for Art in Context, Berlin Mar. 09 »Quo vadis, Humboldt-Forum?«, lecture performance at the Danish Embassy, Berlin Dec. 08 »Uluru« at the NAK Neuer Aachener Kunstverein Feb. 08 »Uluru«, Iron Fest with Ceane Towers and the Wiradjuri Community, NSW, Australia Apr. 08 »Europa Ladrona!« at Days of Photography, Museum Künstlerkolonie, Darmstadt Dec 07 »Europa Ladrona!« at NAK Neuer Aachener Kunstverein July–Oct. 07 »Uluru« at the Villa Merkel, Esslingen Jan 07 »Uluru« at the Goethe Institute Rotterdam, Netherlands Oct. 06 »Uluru« at the Biennale of Photography, Istanbul, Turkey Oct. 05 »Uluru« at ART Cologne 2005, winner of the Epson Art Photo Award Sep. 04 »Uluru«, blank space gallery, Sydney, Australia |