Art in the Underground 2019 – Up in Arms

Platz der Luftbrücke 5, Tempelhof Flughafen, Haupteingang | Berlin | Art Region: Tempelhof

2019 has seen a striking increase in German arms exports. Berlin might no longer be a key location for weapons production, but it still plays a central role in the arms trade. The groundwork for the political decisions that regulate arms production and exports is done in Berlin. The largest arms manufacturers and organisations base themselves in the capital and represent their interests in its political antechamber. The physical proximity between lobbying and politics is overlooked by many and tourists photographing the Brandenburg Gate are unaware that the premises of major arms manufacturers are also in their picture.

Under the title of «Up in Arms», the «Art in the Underground 2019» competition will undertake a critical examination of the arms industry. The selected artists will intervene with works in public space which will mark exact locations of historical and current importance for arms trade. The economic and political structures and repercussions of the trade will be revealed. As more than mere markers, the artworks will invite critical reflection and will call for protest.

Parallel, a series of guided tours through the city will be offered in collaboration with the association LobbyControl. They provide a further form of examination in which close links between the arms industry, its lobby, politics, everyday life and the art world become legible. A website will offer further information and research on the main Berlin-based players in this field and will list their locations on a city map.