Abstract:
Since the Romantic period, India has been a source of Orientalist fantasies for German intellectuals and artists. Although the German Empire lacked colonial territories in South Asia, the translation of ancient Indian texts and the circulation of images and cultural assets had a profound impact on modern Germany. Similarly, travelogues and human exhibitions at the Völkerschauen reveal a complex imaginary that oscillated between idealising fascination and the racist exoticism inherent in imperialist power imbalances. India served as a catalyst for reform movements seeking alternative everyday practices, but also as a source of racist theories. This roundtable takes a critical look at the phenomenon of Indomania in Germany. It investigates how ancient Indian knowledge and culture have been appropriated with different motivations. It focuses on colonial archives and museum collections to examine modes of display and cultural representation. Our discussion will reflect on how these imperialist histories and legacies from India can be approached today and how counter narratives can be imagined.
With:
Dr. Elija Horn
Research associate, Humanistische Hochschule Berlin
Habiba Insaf
Doctoral Candidate, CARMAH – Centre for Anthropological Research on Museum and Heritage / Humboldt Universität zu Berlin
Sajan Mani
Artist and Curator, Berlin
The evening was conceptualized and will be moderated by Dr Sol Izquierdo de la Viña, Postdoctoral Researcher & Fellow at the Department of Modern Art History at Technische Universität Berlin.
The series of events KuK-Tuesdays: Dislocation is curated by Diệu Ly Hoàng and Freya Schwachenwald. More event program can be found here: Program.
The event and discussion will be held in English.