We all live in relationships. This realisation has inspired a two-day festival at the Humboldt Forum, which explores chosen families, biological kinship and other intimate networks of relationships. Look forward to dance performances, concerts, friendly chatbots, readings, games and curator talks in the special exhibitions on ‘Relationships’ and ‘Family’.
Featuring: Kim de l’Horizon, Lilibeth Cuenca Rasmussen, Black Dads Germany, Suli Puschban, Li Binyuan, Ernest and Theo Thiesmeier, Raymond Liew Jin Pin and many more.
Performances and interactions
On 1 May, we’ll be exploring the feeling of ‘oneness’, including a performance by the artist duo Mwangi Hutter. Oneness celebrates people who have come together despite their very different backgrounds.
With her performance The Mitochondrial Eve, Lilibeth Cuenca Rasmussen examines the changing and multifaceted role of motherhood.
How can we build intimacy? In Raymond Liew Jin Pin’s When Two Flowers Meet, fleeting connections are formed through dancing ribbons.
Curious visitors can ‘befriend’ a chatbot in the interactive installation be mAI friend.
Kristy Nataraja’s animated dance piece Transpersonal takes viewers on a journey through the Ethnological Museum’s collections from Africa and Oceania.
In the foyer, everyone is invited to take part in Li Binyuan’s Performance Plaza, where they can identify a well-known person based solely on their voice.
In conversation
Theo and Ernest Thiesmeier present their new film Familie sein. The premiere will be accompanied by a discussion with Theo Thiesmeier’s entire patchwork family.
Book prize winner Kim de l’Horizon will give a lecture-performance on terrestrial kinships – based on Das Blutbuch (2022). My Migrant Mama invite you to enjoy tea, intergenerational exchange and nail varnish.
Preparing meals to order is all about sharing ideas – join the conversation in the groundtable duo’s cooking box.
Festival of Kinship – Given or Chosen:
Sat, 01.05.2026, 10:30–18:30
Sun, 02.05.2026, 10:30–18:30
See here for more information on Festival of Kinship – Given or Chosen?
