Rakshita Mittal
bangaloREsident-Expanded@Lichtenberg Studios

© Rakshita Mittal During my bangaloREsidency-Expanded at Lichtenberg Studios in Berlin, I documented the people and families of East Berlin, who have lived in Lichtenberg since the GDR (German Democratic Republic) times, and have seen the seen the neighbourhood’s cultural geography change and evolve over the decades. These families have been a witness to the Berlin Wall going up, and the falling of the wall leading up to the German reunification (1989). Moving from a communist regime into a democracy, East Germany’s history is made up of micro-stories of its inhabitants who have continued to live here, some still in the same houses, and carved their own spaces and meanings of strength and freedom.

Lichtenberg today, at a glance, is often perceived to be the grey, quiet neighbourhood of Berlin, living in the past and home to older residents with affordable housing, a little away from the city centre. But the more time I spent in the neighbourhood researching about its history and significance, Lichtenberg to me became an interesting teller of Berlin’s past and present - a place where the political and social history of Berlin, social housing, industrial areas, numerous parks intersect with the new urban planning, large immigrant population, one of Berlin’s largest techno clubs (Sysiphos) and young couples wanting to move here to raise their families.

© Rakshita Mittal As an artist working with stories in Lichtenberg, my lens to understanding its present has been to objectively venture into its past through conversations, sharing, and forging connections with its people, especially the ones who have grown up here since the GDR times. As of 2021, the Berlin Wall has been down for more years than it was up for — which makes it even critical to record these stories right now, while the generations that have lived these experiences can still remember and talk about it. The non-linearity in narrative & oral history is what drew me to document the personal stories of people, with an intention to make space for shared and tolerant dialogues.

© Rakshita Mittal During my four weeks at Lichtenberg Studios (and two more outside the studio, exploring Berlin) I found new ways to make connections with my surroundings, its people and with self. My project was completely people-centric, and having spent some time learning German at the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan in the past year, came in handy. A lot of people I interviewed for the project did not speak English, and for me to be able to speak basic German was an enormous help in starting conversations, and trust building. Uwe, my host helped me with resources, enabled networking with local artists, galleries and curators as well. Even though my project was a work-in-progress when the residency ended, I was able to display some of it in the Lichtenberg museum, alongside with the work of other past residents.

© Rakshita Mittal This residency program has been a fulfilling experience for me, as it also gave me an opportunity to create work in a city like Berlin. Situating myself there as an artist, interacting with its people and navigating its culture has helped me understand my own process better and helped shift my perspective. I have come back with meaningful, shared connections and new possibilities for the project. Thank you Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan for supporting this endeavour to learn, grow and share as an artist. I am deeply grateful!