University Alliance Ruhr and the Goethe-Institut are organizing an opening panel discussion and exhibition in New York City. “What We Brought with Us” is an exhibition developed by Academy in Exile at TU Dortmund University, one of the three universities that comprise the University Alliance Ruhr.

The exhibition presents images of objects carried by some of Academy in Exile’s fellows when they fled from their countries of origin to Germany to where they were hosted by University of Duisburg-Essen, Free University of Berlin, Forum Transregionale Studien and Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities (KWI) Essen.

The opening panel of the exhibition with Prof. Dr. Vanessa Agnew, Prof. Kate A. Bonansinga, Prof. Dr. Kader Konuk and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Baer serves as an engaging exploration of the significance and emotional resonance carried by the objects refugees bring with them when fleeing their homelands. “What We Brought with Us” invites us to question our relationship with possessions and each other. It prompts us to reflect on what truly matters to us and what we consider most precious. Does a single object have the power to represent a lost world? What is our sense of belonging defined by? And in the act of leaving, when we are forced to abandon everything, what remains? Together, we will unravel the intricate stories woven into each item, questioning the role of material possessions in shaping our collective understanding of home, belonging, and the human experience.

Join UA Ruhr, Academy in Exile, and Goethe-Institute for this reflective discussion, exhibition, and networking evening with faculty from TU Dortmund University, University of Cincinnati, and New York University.

Date and Time: Wednesday, October 18th, 2023, at 6:00 PM

Location: Goethe-Institut New York, 30 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003

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