WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.520 We have made an effort to select primarily exhibits 00:00:02.520 --> 00:00:06.320 that encourage further questioning. 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:10.320 So, we didn't want to just explain, this is how it was, this is what so-and-so thought. 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:15.400 These are the theses, but instead, one should develop curiosity, one should question things themselves. 00:00:15.400 --> 00:00:20.320 We also have exhibits that show the ambivalence of the Enlightenment era. 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:24.039 We have researchers, like Carl Linnaeus or Charles White, 00:00:24.039 --> 00:00:27.440 who in their endeavor to classify 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:30.640 and organize did not stop at humans. 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:33.719 And ultimately these representations, 00:00:33.719 --> 00:00:38.719 these writings have significantly contributed 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:42.799 to the emergence or foundation of racist theories. 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:45.359 For example, we display the 00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:49.039 Declaration of Independence of the United States from 1776. 00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:54.000 We have one of the few German copies in our collection. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:58.759 However, we contrast this with the slave list of Thomas Jefferson, who 00:00:58.759 --> 00:01:03.799 was the author of the Declaration of Independence, thus showing that 00:01:03.799 --> 00:01:06.799 equality apparently did not apply to everyone. 00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:09.640 Thus, slaves were not included. 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:12.000 And then, of course, there is also 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:15.239 the theme of fantastic three-dimensional objects. 00:01:15.239 --> 00:01:19.319 We have an electrostatic machine from Goethe. 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:23.640 We have a model of a human eye split into eight parts. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:28.319 The overhead view of this model has also become our poster motif. 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:35.760 We have a peep-box, with I believe 30 views, popular views, 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:38.640 which we also light up, to allow for viewing 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:41.799 just as it was perceived back in the 18th century. 00:01:41.799 --> 00:01:47.000 Or, there is also a highlight, a silk dress with balloon motifs, 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:52.079 which shows that science and technology also inspired fashion. 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:55.000 Our designer Hans Hagemeister has been involved from the start 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:57.280 attending our weekly meetings. 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:00.319 and has thus examined all the objects. 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:05.079 What particularly fascinated him were the orthogonal objects. 00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:08.280 Meaning planned cities, structured in a grid layout, 00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:13.039 cabinets of curiosities, 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:16.599 type cases for printers with printing works. 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:21.000 From this, he developed a grid and applied it to our floor plan 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:26.400 and created recurring wall elements, each measuring 3x3 meters. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:31.400 Also sideboards, so all heights are represented, allowing for vistas. 00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:34.080 And so there is this grid of order that 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:37.000 was developed from the exhibition concept. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:40.800 And the color scheme is also derived from the theme. 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:45.039 The term 'Enlightenment' in German originates from meteorology. 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:48.960 Meaning clearing up, sunrises, etc. 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:54.199 This motif is also repeatedly seen in graphics or on engravings. 00:02:54.199 --> 00:02:59.599 And he implemented this by using shades of blue and gray, 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:05.879 which transition into yellow, orange, and brown-red as a color scheme. 00:03:05.879 --> 00:03:10.120 And all these walls, these 3x3-meter walls have different colors. 00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:14.080 So, there is a wide range of colors represented. 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:19.199 We have two floors available for the exhibition in our exhibition hall. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:23.560 It is a broad range of themes, so a lot of space is needed. 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:28.719 We have just over 1000 square meters for themes ranging from science, 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:33.639 to world order, religion, gender models, and pedagogy. 00:03:33.639 --> 00:03:35.800 All of this is on view on the first floor. 00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:41.560 And on the second floor, the focus shifts to human equality, 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:45.599 the teachings of antiquity, statecraft and political freedom, 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:48.719 Mercantilism and Cosmopolitanism and finally 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:51.520 the emergence of a new civil public sphere. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:56.840 What totally captivated me about Liliane Weissberg's concept was the statement, 00:03:56.840 --> 00:04:00.080 that it is the questions of the Age of Enlightenment that 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:02.800 constitute our cultural heritage, not the answers. 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:07.520 Because what remains important today is to question things, 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:09.599 to continually ask questions about 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:13.159 topics, but also to reassess one's own actions. 00:04:13.159 --> 00:04:17.480 This is what remains. The Age of Enlightenment was not a project of progress. 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:20.759 Or issues like tolerance, equality, those principles 00:04:20.759 --> 00:04:23.560 could not be implemented in practice at that time, 00:04:23.560 --> 00:04:25.399 but the questions remained. 00:04:25.399 --> 00:04:28.800 And so we took this as an opportunity for our exhibition, 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:32.759 interviewing figures from media, culture, and 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:36.240 science and also posing them questions. 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:40.000 What does Enlightenment mean to you? How does it influence your work? 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:44.120 And we have distributed this in segments throughout the exhibition themes, 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:47.839 so that one can also reflect on current questions and topics. 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:53.639 The full-length interviews can also be accessed on our website. 00:04:53.639 --> 00:04:58.279 We also have a children’s trail, as children ask the best questions. 00:04:58.279 --> 00:05:02.120 We continue this in a scientific companion program. 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:04.600 We have also produced accompanying publications. 00:05:04.600 --> 00:05:07.680 created with experts on these questions and topics. 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:09.680 And we have an outreach project through which we 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:12.360 engage with external groups and encourage critical questioning. 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:16.399 This means, everything that we have put together here actually goes 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:19.720 beyond a conventional exhibition format. 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:22.199 And that makes it so exciting to be a part of.