Suspended: Not an Object But a Subject

(English version below)

Die Ausstellung nimmt die Verlegung der EU Grenzsicherung in “sichere Herkunftsländer” zum Anlass, Fragen zur aktuellen Flüchtlingspolitik zu stellen.
Sieben KünstlerInnen aus der Türkei, die sich seit Jahren politischen Themen wie Menschenrechtsverletzungen und dem Umgang mit Minderheiten widmen, sind zu Gast bei SCOTTY. Sie reflektieren in ihren Arbeiten den EU–Türkei Deal und seine Folgen. Sie binden ihn in einen historischen Zusammenhang ein. Sie richten ihren Blick auf die derzeitigen Verhandlungen zwischen der Türkei und Deutschland, auf Visa-Freiheit versus Rücknahme und Versorgung von Geflüchteten. Dieses Abkommen ignoriert, dass in der Türkei offiziell der Ausnahmezustand gilt und im Osten des Landes bürgerkriegsähnlich Zustände herrschen. Die Türkei wird als sicheres Dritt-Land erklärt, in das Geflüchtete abgeschoben werden dürfen. Der Türkei-EU Deal soll als Blaupause für Abkommen mit weiteren Herkunfts- und Transitländern dienen.

Die Ausstellung bei SCOTTY ist ein weiterer Teil einer Serie die sich dem Thema „Flucht“ widmet.

English version:

This exhibtion is stimulated by the shift in EU strategy to expand its border security to “safe countries of origin”. It raises question about the current refugee policy.
SCOTTY is hosting seven Turkish artists, who have dedicated themselves to themes including human rights violations and treatment of minorities . In their current work they reflect on the arrangement between the EU and Turkey, its historical background and its ramifications. The artists focus in particular on the ongoing negotiations between Turkey and Germany, visa exemption versus repatriation and support of refugees. The treaty ignores the fact that Turkey has declared martial law and conditions in the eastern part of the country resemble those of civil war. Instead, Turkey is being declared “secure” to legally receive deported refugees. The arrangement between Turkey and the EU is being viewed as a blueprint for similar treaties with countries of origin and those that allow transit.

This exhibition at SCOTTY is a further installment in the ongoing series dedicated to “flight” and refugees.

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* „Out of sight, out of mind: Externalisation of migration and refugee policies“, 05.08.2016
„In Europe, the year 2016 has been characterised by an acceleration of policies of externalisation and shifting of controls on refugees and migrants. … Countries of origin and transit, such as Mali, Niger and Turkey, which have all been integrated into border securitisation and the repulsion of asylum seekers and migrants, receive large sums of money as part of these arrangements. These funds are spent on border security technology, training of border guards, readmission agreements and joint border patrols – but not on actual concepts for protection or improving reception conditions. …..In their negotiations with the EU and its member states countries of origin and transit are reduced to mere vassal states to whom either money, liberalisation of visa regulations or vague mobility concessions for selected groups are promised in return for services in the combating of migration. By contrast, states who are not willing to co-operate face penalties such as trade sanctions or embargos.“
Excerpt from the Position paper by PRO ASYL, medico international and Bread for the World about European policy of externalisation of border controls that leads to massive violations of human rights.