Jochen Becker

From / To Europe

At the Künstlerhaus Büchsenhausen, Jochen BECKER continued his work on the series From/To Europe—Investigations into Europe’s colonial foundations, tri-continental positions, movements of transitory migration and contemporary (post-)colonial conditions in its cosmopolitan cities. According to Becker, “From/To Europe, as a progressive research project, aims to link two crucial fields of investigation—the mutual relations between Europe and the colonies since 1884 and the contemporary situation in the ‘cosmopolitan cities’—as metropolises characterized by migration. The project explores (post-)colonial conditions not as a one-way street from North to South (imperial colonialism), or from South to North (migration), but as a mutual exertion of influence and a project linking European and African countries and people. The investigations also build on cultural, literary, cinematic and photographic sources, their historical substance and the meaning inherent in cultural production. How did Europe constitute itself through colonialism and migration? In what way have these processes and mutual relations developed down to the present day? And is there a future post-colonial Europe emerging in the ‘cosmopolitan cities’?”

Becker used the five-month residency at Künstlerhaus Büchsenhausen to expand and intensify his research. Guests were invited to public talks at the Künstlerhaus and film screenings accompanied by discussions. His research resulted in the exhibition Liberation//Libération. The Liberation of Tyrol (From/To Europe # 4), shown at the Kunstpavillon in 2008. A revised version was presented later at Künstlerhaus Büchsenhausen.

In a lecture series in the 2007 summer semester, Jochen Becker spoke at the Department for Architectural Theory at the University of Innsbruck.