REDRESSAL

redress verb 1 : to remedy 2 : to set upright again (archaic).

Redressal is a retreading of one of my early video works, in which I appear naked in an empty space, walking forward yet moving backward in an endless loop composed of twelve sequential stills. In this iteration, I also navigate across the screen in the opposite direction of my steps, disappearing on one side and reappearing on the other. This time around, though, I am dressed in attire subtly reminiscent of Weimar work clothes and discreetly placed against the backdrop of the main baroque facade of the Berlin Palace at the time of its controversial (re)construction nearly a century later. Although at first glance the background image of the building appears to be a still photo, a closer look reveals birds flying across the sky.

The imperial palace was heavily damaged during the Second World War. Deemed a symbol of Prussian militarism by the German Democratic Republic, it was subsequently dismantled, and its place, the modernist Palace of the Republic was erected. Following German reunification, that building was also demolished, and conservative groups with governmental backing, spearheaded the reconstruction of the old imperial palace, highlighting the ongoing debate around European colonialism and the ways history is commemorated. The video piece not only underscores the complexities and problematics of this and other restoration efforts within the context of colonial legacies but also puts in question the notion of time and progress. 

Commissioned by the 12th Shanghai Biennale: “Proregress”.