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POLIGONAL im Mai 2025: Raum nehmen, Räume erzählen
Im Mai laden wir euch zu zwei Events ein, die queere & feministische Raumpraktiken, Erinnerung & Nachhaltigkeit in der Kunst erfahrbar machen.
Liebe Freund:innen, Kolleg:innen und Wegbegleiter:innen,
im Mai laden wir euch zu zwei Veranstaltungen ein, die queere und feministische Raumpraktiken, Erinnerung, Nachhaltigkeit in der Kunst und kollektive Zukunftsvisionen thematisieren.Vernissage: TAKING SPACE IS A FEMINIST ACT
Freitag, 16. Mai 2025 | 18–22 Uhr
Galerie im Saalbau, Karl-Marx-Straße 141, 12043 BerlinIn der Ausstellung Taking Space is a Feminist Act geht es um die transformative Kraft queer-feministischer Raumaneignung. Sichtbare und unsichtbare Hürden im öffentlichen Raum erschweren vielen Menschen die Teilhabe – die beteiligten künstlerischen Positionen schaffen Räume für Fürsorge, Protest und Sichtbarkeit.
POLIGONAL ist mit einer räumlichen Klanginstallation vertreten:
Constellations x Pleasure Pool widmet sich der Frage, was von queeren Räumen bleibt, wenn sie verschwinden, sich verändern oder nur in Erinnerung weiterbestehen. Die Installation schafft einen weichen, intimen Raum des Zuhörens – ein begehbares Archiv, das Stimmen und Geschichten queerer Gegenkultur hör- und erfahrbar macht.Die Arbeit entstand in Zusammenarbeit mit dem wandernden Raumprojekt Pleasure Pool von Renée Tischer und basiert auf dem von POLIGONAL initiierten Archiv- und Festivalprojekt Constellations.
Zu Gast bei… dem Haus des Papiers
Donnerstag, 22. Mai 2025 | 18:30–20:00 Uhr
Haus des Papiers, Leipziger Straße 54, 10117 BerlinPerformance und Talk: Papier, Stimme, Zukunft
Im Rahmen von KISR – Kunst im Stadtraum Leipziger Straße macht unsere Veranstaltungsreihe „Zu Gast bei…“Halt im Haus des Papiers. Dort entsteht ein temporärer Raum für Austausch, Kunst und performative Setzungen zum Thema Nachhaltigkeit in der Kunst.
Auf der Museumsterrasse diskutieren Annette Berr und Annika Lorenz (Haus des Papiers) mit dem Künstler und Social Designer Jan-Micha Gamer über Materialfragen, Re- und Upcycling sowie neue Modelle künstlerischen Arbeitens im Zeichen ökologischer Verantwortung.
Shlomi Moto Wagner – Performer*, Opernsänger*, Songwriter* und Drag-Queen – eröffnet mit einer vokalen Performance weitere Resonanzräume zu Nachhaltigkeit, Gesellschaft und gelebter Demokratie. Getränke und Snacks an der Bar – der Eintritt ist frei.
„Zu Gast bei…“ ist das Vermittlungsprogramm von POLIGONAL zu KISR Kunst im Stadtraum Leipziger Straße. Die Reihe schafft ortsspezifische Räume des Dialogs mit den Menschen und Institutionen der Straße – zwischen Alltag und Utopie, Gespräch und Performance, Stadt und Kunst.
Wir freuen uns auf euch!Herzliche Grüße vom POLIGONAL-Team
POLIGONAL May 2025: Taking space, telling spaces
Dear friends, colleagues and companions,
This May, we warmly invite you to two events that explore queer and feminist spatial practices, memory, sustainability in art, and collective visions for the future.Opening: TAKING SPACE IS A FEMINIST ACT
Friday, 16 May 2025 | 6–10 PM
Galerie im Saalbau, Karl-Marx-Straße 141, 12043 BerlinThe exhibition Taking Space is a Feminist Act explores the transformative power of queer-feminist spatial appropriation. Visible and invisible barriers in public space hinder equal participation for many – the artistic positions on display create spaces for care, protest and visibility.
POLIGONAL contributes a spatial sound installation:
Constellations x Pleasure Pool asks what remains of queer spaces when they disappear, change, or live on only in memory. The installation offers a soft, intimate space for listening – a walk-in archive where voices and stories of queer counterculture become tangible and audible.The work is a collaboration between Constellations, an archival and festival project initiated by POLIGONAL, and Pleasure Pool, a nomadic spatial installation by Renée Tischer.
Zu Gast bei… Haus des Papiers
Thursday, 22 May 2025 | 6:30–8:00 PM
Haus des Papiers, Leipziger Straße 54, 10117 BerlinPerformance & Talk: Paper, Voice, Future
As part of KISR – Art in Public Space Leipziger Straße, our event series “Zu Gast bei…” stops at Haus des Papiers. A temporary space for exchange, art and performative gestures around sustainability in art emerges on the museum terrace.
Annette Berr and Annika Lorenz (Haus des Papiers) will speak with artist and social designer Jan-Micha Gamerabout material practices, re- and upcycling, and new models of artistic work in the face of ecological challenges.
Shlomi Moto Wagner – performer*, opera singer*, songwriter* and drag queen – will follow with a vocal performance that opens new resonances around sustainability, society, and lived democracy. Drinks and snacks at the bar – free admission.
“Zu Gast bei…” is the public programme curated by POLIGONAL as part of KISR Kunst im Stadtraum Leipziger Straße. In dialogue with local institutions and communities, the series creates site-specific formats for reflection, performance and conversation – between the everyday and the utopian, between city and art.Sure! Here are the post/meta tags without hashtags, in single words and separated by commas:
Taking Space Is A Feminist Act, Queer, Feminist, Art, Sound Installation, Nachhaltigkeit, Haus Des Papiers, KISR, Pleasure Pool, Constellations, POLIGONAL, Queer Memory, Berlin Art Events, Feministische Kunst
Image: Pleasure Pool © Renée Tischer 2023
Taged as/in; art, Berlin Art Events, Constellations, feminist, Feministische Kunst, Haus Des Papiers, KISR, nachhaltigkeit, Pleasure Pool, Poligonal, queer, Queer Memory, Sound Installation, Taking Space Is A Feminist Act#writtenby
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ANDREA DAMP – „Call of the Void“ at Janine bean gallery
Andrea Damp explores fragility, power, and perception through painterly layers, poetic tensions, and symbolic depth. A visual call from the void.
In the new exhibition, Andrea Damp unfolds an impressive tension between free, painterly gestures and precise narrative composition. Her works are not only an expression of technical mastery, but also a multifaceted reflection on worldviews and their fragile narratives.
Echoes from Rügen: Roots and Resonance
Damp, born in 1977 on the island of Rügen, combines biographical depth with technical complexity in her paintings. Damp’s talent for painting was already evident in her childhood, encouraged by her village school teacher and later by an artist at the Berlin Weissensee Art Academy.
Her artistic development took her to the Berlin University of the Arts, where she studied under Prof. Hans-Jürgen Diehl, a proponent of critical realism who later pursued abstract, non-narrative painting. This dual origin is palpable in each of her works, as is the case in the painting „Night Circus“ where atmospheric density, symbolic condensation, and painterly openness intertwine to create a visually overwhelming cosmos.
Between Realism and Abstraction: A Dual Legacy
At first glance, the image presents an almost dreamlike scenario: large plant leaves frame a nocturnal, galactic scene, interspersed with geometric shapes—dodecahedrons, polyhedrons, and color fields—that appear as if they had fallen from an imaginary construction kit.
Yet at the center of the composition sit three older men, engrossed in a game. What initially appears small and innocuous, upon closer inspection, opens up further possibilities for social interpretation: their posture, their absorption, and their isolation suggest a reading in which play becomes a metaphor—for power, control, and world order.
“Night Circus”: The Game of Power and Perception
The contrast between the floating lightness of the colored mists, the childlike geometric symbols, and the metaphorical gravity of the scene is striking. This is where Damp’s strength lies: she doesn’t suggest a definitive interpretation, but rather opens up pictorial spaces in which the viewer can develop their own meaning and attitude. The work „Night Circus“ is both a painterly utopia and a critical mirror.
Damp’s working method – applying layers, examining, discarding, and reworking – is also evident in the complex surface structure of the work. Every form, every color seems to have been examined and determined, every overlay part of a slow process of discovery. Andrea Damp’s works are a powerful, poetic reflection on responsibility, systemic logic, and the fragile balance between order and chaos.
Framing Memory: Antique Frames as Narrative Vessels
An important part of the exhibition also consists of several small-format paintings, framed in antique frames found over the years at flea markets and secondhand shops. No frame was chosen at random; each frame bears traces of its previous life and brings with it its own narrative layer. The artist has chosen not to restore these frames. Cracks in the gold, worn ornaments, dust in the corners – all of this remains visible and becomes an integral part of the works.
The paintings themselves engage in a tense dialogue with their frames. They appear like fragments of memories floating in a kind of visual cloud: an analogous metaphor for storing, collecting, and layering. The exhibition’s title „Call of the Void“ signifies the call from the void, audible through all these traces.
A Painterly Utopia: Damp’s Invitation to Reflection
What makes Andrea Damp’s work so impressive is her ability not to smooth over contradictions. Instead, she makes them fruitful. There is a balance between autobiographical traces and social reflection. She blends painterly intuition and formal precision. Her work bridges monumentality and intimacy. Whether in large-format pictorial cosmoses or in the miniatures integrated within them, it is always about making ruptures visible – and about the possibility of thinking in the open.
ANDREA DAMP – „Call of the Void“
April 30th – June 28th 2025
janinebeangallery
Torstrasse 154
10115 Berlin | Germanyopening hrs: Tue-Sat, 12-6 pm
p.: 0049-30-47056174
www.janinebeangallery.comCopyright © 2025 janinebeangallery
Taged as/in; abstraction, aesthetics, Andrea Damp, Art Show, artistic expression, berlin, Call of the Void, color, composition, contemporary art, contrast, Cosmos, creativity, emotion, exhibition, fine art, frames, gallery, Identity, imagination, Installation, intimacy, intuition, janinebeangallery, layers, memory, metaphor, Narrative, painting, perception, poetics, power, process, realism, Reflection, Society, storytelling, Symbolism, technique, tension, thought-provoking, Visual Art#writtenby
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Synergetic Souls – Soft Changa releases ‘Surely’ feat. Jo.Ke
Soft Changa returns with “Surely” ft. Jo.Ke — a lush, emotional slow-burn of synths, groove, and longing. Out now via House Of Frequency.
“Anchored by a crisp four-on-the-floor bump, “Surely” unfolds through layers of warm synths, shuffling percussion, and subtle guitar chords. The progression moves without a rush, building a certain tension through space as the listener glides through. Floating above it all, Jo.Ke’s vocal threads cut through the haze with a breezy and effortless flow.”
This Song Is Sick
Soft Changa unveiled an intoxicating new single, ‘Surely’, on the 9th of May 2025 via House Of Frequency. The track premiered on renowned tastemaker This Song Is Sick. It marks a powerful new chapter for the genre-defying pair. The pair is formed by producers Jo.Ke, the voice behind ‘Who Loves The Sun’ – one of the biggest tracks to come out of the Burning Man scene over the last decade.
Jo.Ke boasts over 350 million streams across his projects. His long-time collaborator is ulises. With standout performances at WOMOON (Ibiza), Burning Man, and BRAVO GNP, Soft Changa continue to affirm their place as one of electronic music’s most captivating emerging acts.
Emerging from Berlin’s eclectic underground, Jo.Ke first came to prominence through the legendary BAR25 scene. A poetic polyglot with over 2.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, he has spent the past decade touring the globe as a solo act, DJ, and a core member of the revered electronic/ organic downtempo collective Feathered Sun, releasing music on Platon Records, Circus Company, and Denature.
About the Artists:
ulises, originally from Buenos Aires, embarked on a sonic odyssey to find a miraculous sound merging folk circus, techno, and spirituals. A multi-instrumentalist with a boundless curiosity, his work is shaped by diverse influences – from Zen Buddhism and Borges to Dadaism and Depeche Mode. ulises fuses native instrumentation from indigenous cultures with contemporary tools and textures of electronic music. His releases span across labels like Sol Selectas, Scorpios Music, MoBlack Records, and Kiosk ID.
Together, Soft Changa channels an alchemy that feels at once ancient and futuristic – soulful, danceable, and undeniably immersive. Deeply influenced by spirited icons like David Bowie, Brian Eno, and David Byrne, the pair offer a versatile sonic palette of Indie Electronica, sure to be enjoyed by fans of WhoMadeWho, Monolink, and RÜFÜS DU SOL.
Image credit: Ishka Michocka ‘Surely’ is a kaleidoscopic marriage of movement and introspection. A steady four-on-the-floor guides shuffling percussion, pulsing pads, hypnotic synth layers, deep dreamy guitar licks, and a mesmerically melancholy vocal floating atop the haze, singing yearnfully for someone that, despite the euphoria around them, remains in their thoughts. ‘Surely’ is co-written by both members, produced by ulises, while Jan Siebert handled the track’s mixing and mastering.
Soft Changa shared: “Our newest release ‘Surely’ talks about the feeling of missing that special person, especially and even more so when surrounded by people in the euphoric mood of a party. How no matterif you‘re having a really good time and with plenty of friends and beautiful others you just wish your loved one was there with you.”
Synergetic Souls – Soft Changa
SHARES ‘Surely’ feat. Jo.Ke Single
RELEASE DATE: 9 May 2025
LABEL: House Of Frequency
LISTEN: Soft Changa – ‘Surely’
Stream/Download: Soft Changa – ‘Surely’Follow Soft Changa:
Instagram – Soundcloud – Youtube – Spotify
Follow Jo.Ke:
Instagram – Facebook – Soundcloud – Youtube – Spotify
Follow ulises:
Taged as/in; ambient, berlin, Buenos Aires, Burning Man, chill, Dance, deep, down tempo, dreamy, Electronic, emotion, Feathered Sun, groove, House, House Of Frequency, Ibiza, indie electronica, JoKe, longing, Music, new music, Party, performance, Premiere, release, Soft Changa, spiritual, Surely, synth, This Song Is Sick, Vocal#writtenby
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Imagination Creates Reality – Remixes by Acida Dominga
“Imagination Creates Reality” returns reimagined—4 remix masters, 4 visions, pure dancefloor energy. Out May 16 on Eternal States.
»Imagination Creates Reality« returns in powerful form – reimagined, remixed and ready for the dancefloor. Featuring four incredible artists – Italo Brutalo, Kafkactrl, The Black Chamber (aka Alexander Kowalski) and Parand – each bringing their unique vision to the original track.
Artist: Acida Dominga
Release: Imagination Creates Reality – Remixes
Label: Eternal States
Release Date: May 16, 2025
A. 01 – Imagination Creates Reality (Italo Brutalo Remix)
A. 02 – Imagination Creates Reality (Kafkactrl Remix)
B. 03 – State Of Consciousness (The Black Chamber Remix)
B. 04 – Coin Of Heaven (Parand Remix)Genres:
Techno, Italo Disco, Electro, EBM, Experimental, Leftfield Techno
Social:
https://www.instagram.com/acidadominga/
https://www.tiktok.com/@acidadominga
https://soundcloud.com/acida-dominga
https://www.youtube.com/@AcidaDominga
https://acidadominga.bandcamp.com/Taged as/in; acida dominga, alexande rkowalski, artistry, beats, berlin, brutalism, club, Consciousness, dancefloor, DJ, EBM, Electro, Electronic, eternal states, Experimental, futurism, imagination, Italo, italo disco, kafkactrl, Leftfield Techno, may2025, Music, new release, parand, Producer, reality, reimagined, Remix, sound design, techno, the black chamber, underground, vinyl#writtenby
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SCOPE BERLIN: 5 Years -LET’S CELEBRATE TOGETHER!
Feier mit uns 5 Jahre Scope BLN! Am 24. Mai erwarten dich Kunst, Musik, Drinks & Performances – ab 18 Uhr in der Lübecker Str. 43, Berlin-Moabit!
YOU ARE KINDLY INVITED TO OUR FIFTH ANNIVERSARY!
SAVE THE DATE – FRIDAY, MAY 24 AT 6:00 PM @ Lübecker Str. 43, 10559 BerlinWe have a great night planned for you:
06:00 PM – Scope BLN Project Space
We open the exhibition Function of Desire of our artists in residency Drinkmilk – Luc Cimino and Gracie Margherita Elbel. The project is the result of their in-depth creative work during their 6-month program at Scope BLN.
08:00 PM – Scope BLN Courtyard
The party begins in the courtyard of our building.
09:30 PM
Text and live performance:An Unexpected Guest: An Absurd Take on Birthdays by writer Pauric Keenan.
Our DJ’s – 4M4R, Janis Freimanis and Joseph James Francis have taken care of the music and getting you in the dancing mood.
Dan Molnar and Aleksei Parkhomenko will perform an audio-reactive video installation – reflecting physical processes in nature and the circuits of the human mind.
Our friends and partners from KUKUMU have prepared for you amazing alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, to feel the taste of the party.
Be our guest to celebrate together the 5th birthday of Scope BLN with art, music, drinks and great company!
Saturday, May 24 at 6 pm.
Scope BLN, Lübecker Str. 43 10559 BerlinAbout Scope
Scope BLN is a contemporary art initiative in Berlin-Moabit. Its international Artists-in-Residence program provides an open platform for multidisciplinary artists and cultural practitioners to showcase their work, gain wider recognition and expand their professional network in Berlin.
Scope BLN’s exhibition space develops its program in collaboration with curators, artists and artistic groups, aiming to create new audiences of contemporary art.
Scope BLN was founded by Maya Miteva and Boris Kostadinov.
It is curated by Boris Kostadinov and supported by Miteva Collection.Copyright (C) 2025 SCOPE BLN gUG. All rights reserved.
Taged as/in; anniversary, art, Artists, atmosphere, berlin, celebration, cocktails, community, contemporary, creatives, culture, DJs, drinks, event, exhibition, experience, guests, immersive, Installation, Moabit, Music, network, night, opening, Party, performance, residency, Scope BLN, sound, visuals#writtenby
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Alvisi Kirimoto transforms DLA Piper’s Rome HQ
A historic Roman complex becomes a human-centered, flexible HQ for DLA Piper—where elegant design meets sustainability. Designed by Alvisi Kirimoto.
From classic complex
to contemporary workplaceIn Rome, at the intersection of Via Veneto and the Aurelian Walls a short walk from Villa Borghese, architecture studio Alvisi Kirimoto has completed the new headquarters for international law firm DLA Piper. After more than two decades in the capital, the firm is relocating to a new site designed to offer innovative, high-performing spaces that reflect and reinforce its connection to the local context.
Reimagining the Legal Workplace: Past Meets Present
The new headquarters is housed within a property owned by the Diamond Care Fund and managed by DeA Capital Real Estate SGR S.p.A. Dating back to the early 20th century, the complex comprises two independent buildings that have undergone a significant structural and conceptual transformation, carried out by IPI S.p.A. on behalf of the client, in order to achieve LEED certification.
Spanning over 4,000 sqm across seven levels, the project redefines the office as a fluid, ever-evolving environment that breaks away from traditional workplace paradigms. Prioritizing the human experience, it offers flexible, well-calibrated spaces designed to support a variety of activities:
“For the new DLA Piper offices, we created elegant, dynamic spaces with varying degrees of privacy, designed to encourage internal collaboration and client interaction. The result is a versatile environment capable of adapting to diverse professional and interpersonal needs. Every detail was carefully considered, with high-quality, tactile materials and bespoke design chosen to give the spaces a distinct identity.”
– explains architect Massimo Alvisi, co-founder of the studio.The layout unfolds across four main zones: a vibrant community space in the basement; a welcome area on the ground floor; the operative heart on the middle levels; and a meeting/event area at the top.
A Community-Driven Design Across Seven Levels
The community space on the -1 level seamlessly blends working and social dimensions. The food area exudes a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, with prep and dining zones offering a variety of seating arrangements, from communal tables to more intimate window niches. Separated by sliding glass doors, the green room becomes a lush retreat with a central round table surrounded by oak planters integrated into the walls.
Nearby, the consultation room is a flexible, library-like environment with informal seating and integrated workstations. A screening room lined with oak paneling and an embedded screen offer an immersive experience, while dedicated relaxation and leisure areas invite moments of pause, reflection, and recharge.
Material Integrity and Sensory Detail
On the ground floor, the welcome area unfolds with two interlinked spaces. The reception area is lit by a generous skylight and clad in bespoke wood paneling. A monumental limestone and wengé desk with a built-in bonsai tree becomes a sculptural focal point, while a bronzed brass partition offers a glimpse of the adjacent lounge without compromising its privacy. The lounge effortlessly shifts roles: refined and intimate for client meetings, it can also be transformed into an event space thanks to movable seating and folding panels with oriental-inspired patterns. A central wengé and limestone bar completes the space.
The operative area spans from the first to the fourth floor. Single-use offices open onto bright, transparent corridors through large glass partitions, while other zones are conceived as dynamic shared workspaces or open-plan environments. Hybrid spaces, phone booths, and meeting pods are subtly integrated. A custom-designed slatted wood enclosure discreetly houses the break areas, offering informal gathering spots within the workspace.
Urban Connection: Panoramic Views and Purposeful Design
At the top, the meeting/event area opens out onto two panoramic terraces, and features event-ready meeting rooms, and a custom-designed boardroom. These representational spaces spark interaction and dialogue, with custom furnishings and floor-to-ceiling finishes that connect seamlessly to the outdoor terraces, offering a 360° spatial experience that interacts with the cityscape.
A Future-Ready Headquarters Rooted in Place
Throughout the entire project, a strong emphasis on material quality and sustainability is woven into every choice. Natural finishes and thoughtful design choices reflect Alvisi Kirimoto’s commitment to human-centered, environmentally conscious architecture. With this new Roman location, which joins its Milan office in Via della Posta, DLA Piper reinforces its presence in Italy.
Through a design strategy that puts people and their interactions at the core, Alvisi Kirimoto delivers a hybrid architecture that doesn’t impose, but invites and engages; that doesn’t simply organize space, but expands its possibilities,offering a forward-looking model of the workplace that is ready to meet current challenges and future demands.CREDITS:
Project Name
DLA Piper’s New Italy Headquarters
Property
Diamond Care Fund, managed by DeA Capital Real Estate SGR S.p.A.
Client
DLA Piper Italy Services Srl
Address
Via Po, 14, 00198 Rome, ItalyDates
October 2023 – October 2024
Architectural Design, Art Direction, Detailed design of interiors and custom furniture, Installation Design, Joinery works supervision
Alvisi Kirimoto
Project Team
Alvisi Kirimoto
Massimo Alvisi, Junko Kirimoto, Eloisa Susanna, Vasiliki Maltezaki, Rossano Di Stasio, Aurelia Volpe
Structural – MEP and Fire Safety Design, Site Supervision, HSE Coordinator, LEED Certification, Project Manager (Property side)
IPI Management Services S.p.A.Project Manager
(Client side)
Jones Lang LaSalle S.p.A.
Acoustic Design
Alvisi Kirimoto (consultancy Ing. Andreas Hoischen)
Contractor
Italia Costruzioni Srl
Custom Joinery
Arper Spa
Audiovisual Systems
ProAV Ltd
Greenery
New Idroservice srlSuppliers
Acoustic Ceilings: Ecophon Saint-Gobain | Topakustik AG
Flooring: Marazzi Group Srl | Gerflor | Parketipi D’Introno
Glazing: Universal Selecta Spa
Lighting: Linealight Srl
Standard Furniture: Arper Spa | Steelcase | ICF Spa | Ethimo Whitessence Srl | True Design Srl | MDF Italia SrlPhotography
© Serena Eller / © EllerstudioMINTLIST.INFO — IG — FB
Copyright © 2025, MINT LIST, All rights reserved
Taged as/in; adaptive, Alvisi Kirimoto, Architecture, bespoke, collaboration, community, completion, contemporary, craftsmanship, creativity, design, detail, DLA Piper, elegance, environment, experience, flexibility, fluidity, form, function, future, greenery, headquarters, Identity, innovation, interaction, interiors, italy, LEED, lifestyle, Light, materials, modern, Office, professionalism, project, real estate, refinement, renovation, rome, structure, Sustainability, tactile, terraces, transformation, transparency, urban, Vision, workplace, workspace#writtenby
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Willow’s Apothecary by Alighted via Wandering Astray
Wandering Astray presents Willow’s Apothecary, the forthcoming EP by McLean Macionis under his Alighted moniker, releasing May 23, 2025.
The new release features selections from the interdisciplinary performance of the same name. The production is directed by acclaimed poet Arisa White and choreographer Laurel Jenkins. The performance features The Dance Company of Middlebury and cellist Robin Lane. The show premiered on January 17th, 2025, at the Middlebury College Dance Theatre, with a subsequent performance at Mechanics’ Hall in Portland, Maine, on January 25th, 2025.
Inspired by the Opera
The music of Willow’s Apothecary is inspired by the rich mythological world of White’s Post Pardon: The Opera. It draws inspiration from environmental elements. Some of these elements are woven into the fabric of the soundscape. Each track is purposefully minimal, which suits its relationship with movement.
Regarding the writing process, Macionis explains:
“The music emerged through observation, experimentation, and play. I’m particularly inspired by how dancers express themselves through their bodies. My role was to tap into that embodied state and transform it live into a musical score that followed the performance’s narrative arc, which Arisa’s text and performance guided. Though our time working together in the same room was brief, we created something that speaks to our current moment—a time in which we are all unpacking our collective history and working toward healing.”
Macionis, SongwriterAt times, the music drifts subtly in the background. It guides the listener inward. This quality is reinforced by the use of meditative sounds and textures throughout the EP. These range from singing bowls and prayer bells to vinyl crackle and field recordings. At other times, the music dances over layers of earthly rhythms, grounding the listening experience while evoking a sense of equanimity.
EP:
Artist: Alighted
Release: Willow’s Apothecary
Label: Wandering Astray
Release Date: May 23, 2025About Alighted
Alighted is a multidisciplinary artist collective based in New York City, weaving light, sound, and movement into immersive sensory experiences. His work is rooted in transformation—of light, of emotion, of self. Blurring the boundaries between the seen and the felt, Alighted crafts pieces that invite viewers to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the raw, poetic undercurrents of life.
The created soundscapes creations are quiet rebellions against the noise of the world. They achieve this through immersive visuals, layered soundscapes, or delicate textures. These are gentle reminders that beauty often flickers in the shadows before it blazes into being.
Alighted draws inspiration from fleeting moments: dusk on a city street, a forgotten melody, the hush before a storm. Symbolizing arrival, illumination, and the act of becoming—and their art reflects that journey, one spark at a time.
Taged as/in; Soundscapes, »Willow’s Apothecary«, Arisa White, EP, Laurel Jenkins, Macionis, Robin Lane, The Dance Company of Middlebury, Wandering Astray#writtenby
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When Friendships Break: Cancel Culture and Victim Blaming
How cancel culture affects personal friendships and why victim blaming can deepen emotional wounds instead of healing them.
Cancel culture isn’t just a public phenomenon—it’s creeping into our closest relationships. Here’s how emotional exile and victim blaming damage friendships, and what we can do about it.
Cancel Culture in Friendships: A Growing Concern
Once confined to celebrities and social media influencers, cancel culture has seeped into our personal lives, particularly friendships. In this new dynamic, “canceling” a friend often means cutting off contact due to a perceived wrongdoing—sometimes with little explanation, context, or opportunity for reconciliation.
While self-protection and boundary-setting are essential, cancel culture can blur the line between healthy detachment and emotional exile. I discovered, that some friendships and their surroundings are based on ego and advantages. As soon they’re not available anymore, the friendship or relation is cancelled. It’s a vicious cycle of toxic relations and narcissism.
Research has shown that being “canceled” can cause deep psychological harm. Those on the receiving end may experience shame, anxiety, social isolation and a hesitancy to trust others. What’s more, this approach can short-circuit the possibility of mutual growth, understanding and healing.
The Fine Line Between Boundaries and Exile
Boundaries are vital in all relationships. They protect mental and emotional well-being, help clarify expectations, and ensure that interactions are respectful and healthy. But canceling someone—especially when influenced by social pressure, hearsay or incomplete narratives—can quickly become a form of emotional exile.
This growing trend is often fueled by the cultural mantra “you don’t owe anyone anything.” While empowering in some contexts, it can also erode the foundation of meaningful connections. Ghosting, silent withdrawals, or public shaming under the guise of accountability may feel decisive, but they often dodge the harder work of communication and resolution.
Especially in circles, where drug abuse is a big topic, people get cut off for not being able or willing to play the game. While co-dependency is an element within relationships, it’s also a severe danger for the mental health of the individual. What happens, if the praise and the loyalty of a friend or your partner turns into mobbing and false accusations? And what if, co-dependency has become an element of oppression?
The Hidden Damage of Victim Blaming
When a friend opens up about being hurt or harmed, the last thing they need is to be blamed for their experience. Yet victim blaming happens—often subtly— and mostly in close relationships. It might sound like, “Why didn’t you just leave?” or “Are you sure it happened that way?”
These kinds of responses undermine the victim’s reality and contribute to feelings of shame, confusion and betrayal. They can lead to gas lightning, oppression and in some cases to suicidal thoughts. Even worse, they destroy the self-esteem of individuals, which are often dealing with an already fragile condition, psychological issues or the lack of perspectives.
Psychological studies point to cognitive biases like the just-world hypothesis—the belief that people get what they deserve—as a root cause of victim blaming. This bias allows people to feel safer in a chaotic world, but it often comes at the cost of empathy and support for those who’ve been harmed. The bullied ones becomes the bully–sometimes without noticing– because of fighting back or responding to defamation and false accusation.
When friends respond with blame rather than belief, trust is fractured, and the victim may feel doubly wounded—not just by the original harm but also by the betrayal of someone they thought was a safe guard or friend.
Emotional Literacy: The Path to Healing
True friendship requires emotional intelligence: the courage to listen without judgment, the humility to own one’s mistakes, and the discernment to know when to repair or let go. Rather than defaulting to cancellation, emotionally literate friendships prioritize dialogue, vulnerability, empathy and understanding.
One promising alternative is restorative justice, an approach focused on healing rather than punishment. It invites those involved to reflect on the harm caused, take responsibility, and collaboratively seek resolution. This framework doesn’t minimize pain; instead, it creates space for accountability and empathy—two things sorely missing in many fractured friendships.
However in many cases the blame burdens the victim. Without being heard or understood, the consequences can become quite heavy and one sided. If the surrounding does not react or reflect on their own behaviour, the lack of empathy does not relay on the victim alone.
Choosing Connection Over Cancellation
Cancel culture and victim blaming in friendships reveal a deeper need in our personal lives: the need for emotional awareness, communication and compassion. While it’s important to walk away from truly harmful relationships, many friendships are worth the effort it takes to engage, repair and grow.
If we can resist the temptation to cancel and instead lean into discomfort with curiosity and care, we might rediscover what friendships are really about—not perfection, but presence.
Footnotes:
- Premier Science Journal – “Cancel Culture and Its Psychological Impact”
- https://premierscience.com/pjp-24-686 (Discusses the emotional and social effects of cancel culture, including anxiety and isolation.)
- Business Insider – “People love canceling plans—but it’s harming friendships and mental health”
- https://www.businessinsider.com/people-love-to-cancel-plans-friends-bad-health-society-economy-2025-3 (Examines how avoidance behavior and canceling social plans impact relationships and emotional well-being.)
- Verywell Mind – “Why Do People Blame the Victim?”
- https://www.verywellmind.com/why-do-people-blame-the-victim-2795911 (Explores the psychological roots of victim blaming, including the just-world hypothesis and cognitive dissonance.)
- RSIS International – “Students’ Perceptions of Cancel Culture: Reflections on Public Opinion, Attribution Theory, and Restorative Justice”
- https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/selected-students-perceptions-and-attitudes-on-cancel-culture-reflections-on-public-opinion-attribution-theory-compassionate-education-and-restorative-justice (Provides insight into alternative frameworks like restorative justice for addressing harm and conflict.)
Taged as/in; accountability, boundaries, breakups, Cancel Culture, Communication, Conflict, Emotional Intelligence, empathy, friendships, Healing, mental health, psychology, Relationships, Resolution, restorative justice, social dynamics, support, trauma, Trust, victim blaming, vulnerability#writtenby
- Premier Science Journal – “Cancel Culture and Its Psychological Impact”
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Join the Initiative: BAI Social – Art in Solidarity
We’re thrilled to introduce BAI Social, our nonprofit initiative harnessing the power of art and education to uplift communities in need.
Introducing BAI Social (BAI’s Nonprofit Initiative)
Launched in 2024 by the Berlin Art Institute, BAI Social is a nonprofit arm dedicated to supporting artists in times of crisis. Its mission is clear and compassionate: to uplift creators and artists who are facing distress due to war, political instability, persecution, or discrimination—including refugees, displaced people, people with disabilities, and those marginalized because of their race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
In essence, BAI Social stands for artistic freedom and human solidarity, ensuring that talented voices aren’t silenced by conflict or injustice.
Importantly, BAI Social offers funded residencies for artists in need. While the core BAI Studio Program is tuition-based, BAI Social covers the participation fee for free.
BAI social offeres spaces, resources and mentorship, so that selected artists can pursue their practice in a safe and secure environment.BAI Social: How it began!
Over time, Berlin Art Institute received a growing number of inquiries from artists around the world—artists facing difficult circumstances, from displacement and discrimination to challenges that disrupted their ability to continue creating.
Their requests shared a common thread: a need for support, space, and an environment where they could safely pursue their artistic practice. Recognizing this need, we felt a responsibility to act. In 2024, we established BAI Social, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to providing opportunities for artists navigating adversity.
Photo by courtesy of Ihor Poronyk, director Odesa Museum of Western and Eastern Art, artist Sofiia Holubeva, Stephanie Jünemann & Ralf Schmitt, Directors BAI (from left to right) This mission took form when war broke out in Ukraine. Understanding the urgent need, we opened our doors to Ukrainian artists seeking refuge and continuity for their work. BAI Social provided a space where these artists could continue developing their practice, engage with peers, and share their voices despite the challenges they faced.
Today, BAI Social continues this work—not only for artists affected by war or political conflict, but for anyone who needs a safe and supportive environment to create. Whether an artist’s work reflects social issues, personal stories, or purely creative exploration, our commitment remains the same: to provide the resources, space, and community that allow artistic voices to grow and be heard. We believe every artist deserves the opportunity to continue their practice, no matter the challenges they face.Ukrainian Artists Supported by BAI Social.
One of our initial focus was to support Ukrainian artists who have sought refuge and creative community in Berlin. Meet three artists who recently benefited from BAI Social residencies, each bringing their unique voice and vision to our institute:
Oksana Metka
Oksana Metka is our current BAI Social resident in Berlin. She received her bachelor’s degree with honours from the Lviv National Academy of Arts, specializing in monumental painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Restoration (2015-2019). Since 2021, Oksana Metka has been actively participating in exhibitions, festivals and cultural projects in Germany. She is a painter deeply inspired by the essence of nature and the fleeting moments of life.
Mariia Lutsak
Mariia Lutsak is a Ukrainian artist. She was born in 1997 into a family of artists in Kiev and graduated from the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture (2018). She has been participating in art exhibitions since 2014. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Maria moved to Berlin. Her works are a reflection on the theme of war.
Sofiia Holubeva
Sofiia Holubeva was born in Odesa. She studied at the Kyiv Academy of Media Arts (Contemporary Art). She also studied at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture in Kyiv (Fine Arts) and the Odesa Art College of Grekov (Fine Arts).
Holubeva currently lives and works in Berlin. Holubeva explores the social, psychological, and political aspects of today’s human existence. She focuses on issues of truth and responsibility. Her work also addresses subjective and objective matters. Sofia’s work is a deep self-reflection and research on human behavior.
In addition to the artists supported through BAI Social since 2024, Berlin Art Institute previously welcomed Ukrainian artists Nikita Kadan and Olia Fedorova in 2019 through a partnership with the Ukrainian Institute’s EXTER residency program.Their participation, including public lectures and artistic contributions, marked an early step in BAI’s commitment to fostering international dialogue and supporting artists from Ukraine.
Join BAI Social – A Call for Collaboration!
By working together, we can expand opportunities for artists who are in need of resources, and supportive community to continue creating. At Berlin Art Institute, we are committed to a global vision of solidarity through art. But we know that with like-minded partners, we can reach even more artists and make a deeper impact.
If your organization shares these values, we invite you to collaborate with us. Whether by partnering to provide residency opportunities, recommending an artist in need or developing educational projects together, there are many ways we can work hand in hand. Let’s unite efforts to empower more artists, nurture diverse creative voices, and build a stronger, more inclusive global art community.
👉 Partner with BAI Social →
We look forward to building meaningful collaborations with us in this mission. Together, let’s champion art as a force for hope, healing, and shared humanity.
For inquiries or to discuss potential collaboration, please contact us at BAISocial@BerlinArtInstitute.com The BAI combines an international artist residency with a contemporary art school. It also functions as an innovative arts incubator. The BAI is an independent institute for artistic practice, training, discourse, and research in Berlin. All courses are conducted in English.
Phone: +49 (0)30 235 735 30
Fax: +49 (0)30 235 735 32
info@BerlinArtInstitute.com
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