Once We Were Trees, Now We Are Birds

Once We Were Trees, Now We Are Birds is a collaborative project created by the Martin Roth-Initiative, one of the largest programmes advocating for the protection of artists and cultural practitioners from around the world, in cooperation with the ifa Gallery Berlin and the Goethe-Institut in Exile. The exhibition’s title refers to a story from southeastern Turkey’s coastal region, in which doves sing, “Oh my neighbour, oh wild olive tree, once we were trees, now we are birds.” This poetic transformation provides a framework for explorations of belonging, rootlessness and the search for new beginnings in unfamiliar landscapes.

From February 21, 2025, to June 8, 2025, the exhibition will be presented at the ifa Gallery — during the festival, there will be a pop-up exhibition at the ACUD Gallery.

The exhibition at the ifa Gallery and the festival at the Goethe-Institut in Exile present for the first time a broad selection of works by artists who have found a safe haven in Germany with the support of the Martin Roth-Initiative. Both the exhibition and the festival programme are curated by former scholarship holders. Participating artists originate from numerous countries, including Afghanistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, India, Iran, Marrocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, , Russia, Sudan, Turkey, Uganda and Ukraine.

Once We Were Trees, Now We are Birds encompasses a diverse range of artistic disciplines and is centred around themes such as social violence, political repression, censorship and human rights restrictions. The individual artworks are deeply personal; at the same time, they form a collective mosaic of stories that poignantly reflect our contemporary world. How does exile begin, and how does it change in the felt context of a new home(land)? Or, as one participant asks, “Where does exile begin in my body?” Most of the contributors live in Germany and are confronted with an existence at the threshold between a “country of origin” and a “host country”. This position is associated with ongoing challenges such as immigration policies, anti-Muslim racism and the rise of authoritarian powers.

Each of the nearly 50 participating artists has designed a 59.4 × 84.1 cm poster available for visitors to take home. In a world where digital images and fake news form an endless stream, capturing and sharing subjective testimony in print can be an act of resistance. Posters also have a long history as a medium for information, free speech and artistic activism. 

Once We Were Trees, Now We Are Birds invites audiences to reflect on life’s ruptures and crossroads. At best, these turning points become fertile ground for new roots to set, unleashing winds beneath newly formed wings.

The exhibition was curated by: Muhammad Salah Abdulaziz, Emrah Gökdemir, Anna Karpenko and Thibaut de Ruyter.