Critical Zones: In search of a common ground

Forensic Architecture is showing Cloud Studies (2021) at the travelling exhibition »Critical Zones. In Search of a Common Ground«

»Critical Zones. Observatories for Earthly Politics«, the first iteration of this exhibition, where Forensic Architecture showed Cloud Studies as well, was conceived and exhibited at ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe (2020–2022) based on a concept by Bruno Latour and Peter Weibel.

For the Goethe-Institut South Asia, a travelling adaption has been co-produced by the ZKM | Karlsruhe, and the Goethe-Institut/ Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai. It shows a selection of artistic positions and is complemented by further works from Indian and Sri Lankan artists.

The South Asia tour of the exhibition will begin in Mumbai on October 28, 2022. Further in association with the respective Goethe-Instituts, »Critical Zones. In Search of a Common Ground« will be exhibited in Colombo (opening on November 10) and Pune (opening on November 18) in 2022, followed by Kolkata, New Delhi and Bangalore in 2023.

The exhibition and its activation program have been adapted for the local audiences in close dialogue between the curators, art mediators and the Goethe-Institut Mumbai. The core aim of the project is to investigate and address the Critical Zone at each station by making the conversation as locally relevant as possible, within the larger framework of the exhibition idea. hence each station will include further dialogues and co-creative moments to investigate and analyse what are the issues of importance for each particular location – its Critical Zone and its inhabitants.

For a long time the reactions of Earth to our human actions remained unnoticed, and have now finally – not least due to recent international climate protests – moved into public consciousness. The exhibition project Critical Zones invites visitors to engage with the critical situation of the Earth in a novel and diverse way and to explore new modes of coexistence between all forms of life.

Photo credits

Photos by: Anil Rane
Courtesy: Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai and ZKM
Installation at Gallery MMB, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai