Thinking from the pedestal

Five plinth benches made of red concrete
10 short films, perspectives on the Thälmann Monument, 2021

In 2020/21 I realised the “Artistic Commentary on the Ernst Thälmann Monument” after I had won 2nd prize in the Europe-wide art competition and my design was recommended for realisation. On the square in front of the memorial in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg, 5 plinths made of red concrete were erected. The plinths have the proportions of the monument plinth and bear relief-like inscriptions that are also the titles of the 10 short films. The films can be viewed on the website www.vomsockeldenken.de via QR codes on the pedestals.

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VOM SOCKEL DENKEN consists of three elements. The five concrete pedestals here on site, ten short films that can be accessed via the QR codes on the pedestals and a website where the films and further information about the project can be found.

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Credits

THINKING FROM THE PEDESTAL

Artistic commentary on the Ernst Thälmann Monument

Idea, concept, realisation:
Betina Kuntzsch

Concrete plinths
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Production and installation: Betonware Berlin
Consultation: Arthur Numrich
Model making: Friedrich Gobbesso
Typography: Cornelia Ellinger
QR code signs: Becker Schilderfertigung

Website
Design and programming: Design for Humans
Text: Michaela Nolte
Translation: Lucinda Rennison

Many thanks to the Pankow District Office of Berlin
Office for Further Education and Culture, Department of Art and Culture
Annette Tietz, Paula Böttcher, Enkidu Leyendecker

Film team
Screenplay, direction, animation, editing: Betina Kuntzsch
Dramaturgy, research: Christina Schmidt
Camera: Sven Boeck, Martin Langner, Claire Roggan, Betina Kuntzsch
Producer: Maria Wischnewski
Production assistance: Lilly Rinklebe
Composition: Joachim Gies
Saxophone, percussion, electronics: Joachim Gies
Sampling, electronics: Michael Walz
Percussion: Denis Stilke
Speakers: Claudia Mehnert, Betina Kuntzsch
Voice recording: Urs Hauck
Sound design, sound mixing: Michael Walz
Technical Support: Helmuth Schneider
Subtitling: Babelfisch translations

Archiv material
GASAG AG Berlin
AFC Energie Berlin | ars cinema berlin e. V. | Rainer Hässelbarth | Filmmuseum Potsdam
Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv Berlin, Bundesarchiv
ddrbildarchiv
Deutsche Fotothek
Stiftung Deutsches Historisches Museum
Deutsches Rundfunkarchiv
Wolfgang Fischer
Mahn- und Gedenkstätte Ravensbrück, Stiftung Brandenburgische Gedenkstätten
Betina Kuntzsch
Prof. Dietmar Kuntzsch
Hansgert Lambers
Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin | Jochen Haupt
Regina Scheer
Hans Scherner
Andreas Strozyk
Museum Pankow
PROGRESS Film GmbH
Robert-Havemann-Gesellschaft e.V. | Werner Fischer | Rolf Zöllner
Stadtarchiv Neubrandenburg
Kunstgussmuseum Lauchhammer
dpa Picture-Alliance GmbH
Sony Music Entertainment Germany GmbH

Children’s drawings
Betina Kuntzsch
Annette Schulze-Röger
Philipp Karstädt
Olf Kreisel
Uta Rinklebe
Christina Schmidt
Sabine Schmidt
Claudia Kuntzsch
Maria Wischnewski

Poem „immerdar“ by Kathrin Schmidt from „sommerschaums ernte“
Kiepenheuer & Witsch 2020

Song „So ist ein Pionier” by Reinhold Andert, recording at the Friedrichstadtpalast 1974
Amiga | Sony Music Entertainment Germany GmbH

Thanks to
Reinhold Andert, AnwohnerInitiative Ernst-Thälmann-Park, Sören Benn, Paula Böttcher
Wolfgang Cortjaens, Vera Dehle-Thälmann, Ralf Forster, Philipp Herb, Ines Hahn, Philipp Karstädt
Anne Dorte Krause, Reinhard Krause, Olf Kreisel, Claudia Kuntzsch, Prof. Dietmar Kuntzsch
Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Annette Leo, Martin Lutzens, Enkidu Leyendecker, Ingrid Meyer, Michaela Nolte
Christoph Ochs, Britta Pawelke, Uta Rinklebe, Regina Scheer, Hans Scherner, Sabine Schmidt
Antje Schneider, Annette Schulze-Röger, Hans Soost † und Martina Nischewoff
Sony Music Entertainment Germany GmbH, Annette Tietz, Robert Wein, Eleonore Wolf, Nina Ziesemer

Special thanks to the Museum Pankow, Beate Böhnisch und Bernt Roder

© KOBERSTEIN FILM | Betina Kuntzsch | Bezirksamt Pankow von Berlin

Festivals

Under the title KOPF FAUST FAHNE, a compilation of all the films can be seen in various cinemas and at festivals.

Dok Leipzig, German Competition, 2021
Interfilm, 2021