Meredith Lemke '23 | Exile and Migration through Art and Music

Art and music are incredibly important mediums to explore themes of acceptance, integration, and xenophobia, as well as the experiences of migrants. Art and music allow individuals to express their experiences and emotions to a wider public, and in doing so hopefully build understanding and empathy for those seeking better, safer lives.

In the fall of 2020, I took Exile & Migration, a course taught by Professor Ellis through the German Department. The course examined the social, emotional, and political effects of exile and migration in connection to German-speaking countries. One of my favorite parts of this course was our final project in which we curated a series of artworks connected to themes of exile and migration. I focused in particular on the so-called “refugee crisis” from 2015-2017 in Europe. I would like to share a few of my favorite pieces of art I found through this project with you today.

Fluchtzieleuropahavarieschallkörper (2017)

Composer and artist Guillermo Galindo bridged the mediums of sculpture and music with his exhibit “Fluchtzieleuropahavarieschallkörper,” loosely translated to “Escape-goal-Europe-damage-noise-body.” The exhibit is two instruments constructed out of the remains of broken migrant/refugee ships. The instruments produce shrieking, dissonant, haunting sounds. They confront observers with the uneasiness, danger, and anxiety of leaving one’s country. The name of the exhibit also raises important questions such as: What “bodies” are truly referenced here? What bodies can or are allowed to make noise? What role does Europe (as the “escape-goal”) play in the damage to these bodies?

Guillermo Galindo, Fluchtzieleuropahavarieschallkörper, 2017 from Arterritory on Vimeo.

Syrian Expat Philharmonic Orchestra (2016)

SEPO was founded in 2015 by the Syrian musician Raed Jazbeh. He seeks to bring expatriate Syrian musicians together to preserve Syrian music and culture and share it with the European public. SEPO gives performances in many concerthouses, but their performances in the Konzerthaus Berlin specifically demonstrate how migrant and diasporic experiences are being uplifted within important cultural locations in Germany. Support for SEPO in the Konzerthaus Berlin represents important steps towards intercultural acceptance and appreciation through music.

Das Boot ist voll (2019)

“Das Boot ist voll” or “The boat is full” by the German alternative rock musician Faber is another interesting musical reaction to the large influx of migrants to Germany and Europe from 2015-2017. The title of the song references how many migrants travel to Europe across the Mediteranean by overcrowded ships. This dangerous passage has led to many deaths as ships capsize, break, or do not reach their destinations. The song confronts nationalistic, xenophobic stereotypes about migrants through dark satire. Faber switches back and forth between the perspective of a far-right nationalist and someone who is incredibly critical of that perspective. The music video and song explore how migrants and refugees are often dehumanized and portrayed as dangerous in politically and socially xenophobic rhetoric. It confronts listeners with how unempathetic individuals can be to the tragic plights of individuals on these boats. Ultimately, the song calls attention to how unjustly migrants are treated in public rhetoric and the struggles they are forced to face both on their journeys to Europe and once they arrive.

Going Away – der Weg der Flucht (2018/19)

“Going Away- der Weg der Flucht” or “Going Away - the Way of the Escape” is a piece of the collaborative multimedia art project “Convivencia.” “Convivencia” seeks to combine migrant and native German perspectives through music, paintings, poetry, and other mediums in order to show the value of intercultural collaboration and acceptance. The project also seeks to give refugee/migrant artists the opportunity to work through and share their difficult experiences through artistic mediums. In “Going Away,” the band Bazar andalus fashioned a poem from Esmail Saedi into lyrics. The poem describes Saedi’s experience fleeing from Iran to Germany. Bazar andalus chose a pulsing, strong “african groove” to convey that migrants and refugees are resolute and will continue to make their way towards us [towards Germany].

These pieces of artwork are each beautiful and challenging in their own ways, and I highly recommend spending time listening to or observing them on your own.

If you would like to view my full curated project with more pieces of artwork, the link is https://fluchtindiekunst.tumblr.com/ .