Katja Grawinkel-Claassen & Kathrin Tiedemann

FFT Reading Group

Book club Talks & Workshops Social/Urban Movements

In the “Reading Group” at the FFT Foyer, we, along with you, would like to read books and texts and discuss current topics. The initial books on our list were selected because we, at the moment, find them to feature pressing issues, as well as inspiration. They are about the intertwining of different species, about social justice, and political activism. Everyone is invited to participate in one or more “Reading Group” dates – whether you are a bookworm or do not have too much time to read right now. The first three dates have been set. After that, it will be possible to arrange more appointments or to self-organise them as well as make propositions for more texts. The “Reading Group” will be hosted by Katja Grawinkel-Claassen and Kathrin Tiedemann. They will prepare excerpts from the books listed below for the respective dates, which we will be reading together on-site.

The “Reading Group” will offer an introduction into our “Re_Generation” project until January, 2023. Together with artist and philosopher Siegmar Zacharias, we want to exercise a practice of future therein and take a position in relation to the conditions we are living under by means of artistic methods – Climate crisis, capitalism, colonialism, or to put it this way: Exploitation and exhaustion. “Re_Generation” will start with a series of online lectures in January, 2023, culminating in performances, workshops, and a symposium in May, 2023.

Die Bücher

Feel free to buy the books at a local bookshop, like BiBaBuZe. To the order form

Geflochtenes Süßgras: Die Weisheit der Pflanzen (Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants) – Robin Wall Kimmerer
Robin Wall Kimmerer interweaves indigenous wisdom and scientific realisations into a braid of stories about Earth’s generosity.

Unertrunken (Undrowned) – Alexis Pauline Gumbs
Alexis Pauline Gumbs speaks of those who drowned – both literally and metaphorically –, those who stated, “I can’t breathe”, and those who breathed on despite it all. She invites us to learn a new way of breathing. She introduces us to whales, dolphins, seals, walruses, and manatees as mentors. Because who could, actually, know more about not drowning?

Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice – Rupa Marya, Raj Patel
An injury of one is an injury to everyone. Our bodies, societies and our planet are all inflamed. Political economist Raj Patel and physician Rupa Mary shed light on the hidden connections between human health and the profound injustice of our political and economic systems.