In August 2023 a proposal was submitted in an art-for-architecture competition for decolonial commemoration at the Global Village in Berlin. Under the title “Downgraded People” a group of sculptural objects was proposed to “populate” the outdoor areas of the building.
Colonial repression is given a walk-through monument. The bent bodily posture represents human repression. The image is made abstract in order to filter out what is essential: the condition of being bent, of being repressed. The image is multiplied to make clear that it was the destiny of masses. It is executed as a three-dimensional object, to put it into the living present, to be tangible next to us.
The available space is covered with a population of downgraded people. The population forms a labyrinthine path that is disturbing. Those who walk there have to move aside and have an oppressive feeling. The size of the figures forces passers-by who are walking upright to look down on the downgraded people. The population comes to life through variations of colour and gesture.
Downgraded People is a sculptural ensemble consisted of bent U-profiles that are securely anchored in foundations in the ground (individually: 150 cm tall, 20 cm wide). The steel U-profiles are painted in three colours: black, charcoal and grey. In this way they refer to the façade of the new building. The dark grey façade is thus charged with meaning and incorporated into the work of art.