The exhibition AUFWACHEN ! BESSER MACHEN ! at Kleine Humboldt Galerie shows works of art dealing with the conflict between hope, personal freedom and economic goals. The multifaceted and complex works of art give testimony to the topicality of optimization in today`s global society. Its effects are examined in terms of self-discipline, technical achievements and the tendencies of urban development in modern cities. The failure of these attempts produces new knowledge and opens fresh perspectives that will perhaps lead to higher quality of life. Is the propagated improvement truly an achievement?

In his book Society of Tiredness, the Berlin-based philosopher Byung-Chul Han mentions the collective exhaustion caused by global hyperactivity. Han predicts quite convincingly that this tiredness will increase in the future – if we fail to wake up.

With works by: Larissa Fassler, Giulia Giannola, Gesa Glück, Ce Jian, Fan Jian Folke Köbberling and Martin Kaltwasser, Eva Kotatkova, Mathieu Schmitt, Kateřina Šedá Hito Steyerl, Ma Qiusha u.v.a.

Curated by Meta Marina Beeck

Screening. Monday, June 24, 2013, 8pm, Unter den Linden 6 in the auditorium (Kinosaal).
Fan Jian:The Next Life. Documentary. 2011. China/England/Japan. OmU in English

Finissage. Wednesday, June 10, 2013, 8pm, Unter den Linden 6 in the atrium (Lichthof).
Hito Steyerl speaking about The Spam of the Earth: Withdrawal from Representation