A History of Ideas

The 3-Channel installation “A history of ideas” is a reflection on how to deal with history and memory in the formerly pluralistic and revolutionary polish city Bialystok . The work reflects on history and memory and links it with current social developments in Bialystok. In the work young people from Bialystok are asked the following questions: Is history important? Do you have to look more critically at the world? What does resistance mean? The interview partners refer to the interpretation of history, criticism and whether there are forms of resistance. Thus, A history of ideas becomes a reflection on the reading of historical events within collective historiography and the culture of commemoration and indirectly refer to the current political events in Poland and Europe. A voice over reflects on history, memory and forms of represenation as well as questions how to reconcile these two. A search for traces in a city that could be exemplary stand for more than a city, maybe for Europe, maybe for the future.

Johannes Gierlinger (AT)
His work has been shown various film festivals and institutions, including Visions Du Réel Nyon, Belvedere21 Vienna, Werkleitz Center for Media Art, CPH:DOX, EIFF – Black Box, rotor Graz, mumok cinema, Diagonale Graz. Lives and works in Vienna.