To Tsumeb
Duration: 07:13
Shown at: Berlin Science Gallery, TU Berlin 2024
Originally commissioned as part of the Earth, Water, Sky program, curated by Ariane Koek and funded by Fondation Didier et Martine Primat.
'How can we further our understanding of minerals beyond their existence simply as objects of research and technology? Artist in residence, Niamh Schmidtke, dived deep into interdisciplinary dialogues trying to pull blood from rocks and stones. As a culmination of these encounters, they developed novel perspectives on the existence of rocks and minerals. To Tsumeb is a 7 minute film which maps the entangled histories of mining, railways and imperial violence, asking the viewer to relate their experiences of mineral collections to the powers which extracted these minerals for a European gaze. The works are inspired by Niamh’s research with their science partner, geologist and custodian of the Mineral Collections at TU Berlin, Dr. Johannes Giebel.
Please mail n.schmidtke(@)outlook.ie for the link to the film.
To Tsumeb, film still, 2024
To Tsumeb (audio installation),
Left to right; Still from To Tsumeb, Installation views in Berlin Science Gallery
Image credit to artist and Nadine Schönfeld
Credits
Artist in Residence: Niamh Schmidtke
Curator: Ariane Koek
Scientific Partner: Dr. Johannes Giebel, Mineral Collections at TU Berlin
Production: Dr. Kerstin Wagner, Science Gallery at TU Berlin
Production Support: Dr. Michael Fowler, Annette Müller, Robert Niemann, TU Berlin
Sound Designer: John Trevaskis
Sound Actors (in chronological order): Deborah S. Phillips, Oğuzcan Özyurt, Claudia Wiedemer, Sydney LaFaire, Mary Katharine Tramontana, Marie Nadja Haller, Agata Guevara, Ana Suarez Kavalis, Felipe Valdez, Leonie Rodrian
Audio Contributions: Dr. Johannes Giebel, Nikolai Azariah, Dr. Malina Lauterbach, Dylan Kerr and Niamh Schmidtke
German Translator: Beatrice Zaidenberg
Rukwangali Translator and Speaker: Nasira Makanga
Dyeing Research: Material Futures Residency at Cove Park, December 2023
With thanks to Fares Schulz at the TU Berlin Computer Music and Sound Synthesis Team, Gabrielė Žemaityė at Kitmapper, Nina Davies and Lucy McCabe.
Below: Pulling Blood from a Stone, exhibition view, 2024, image credit Michael Setzpfandt
