For thousands of years, human beings have lived in relationships of asymmetrical dependency. Networks of dependency are created by people controlling access to resources and the things people produce and consume. But it is often these very things that make dependencies real for observers. Within such a framework of material and social dependencies, the exhibition tells a millennia-old story of slavery and strong asymmetrical dependencies through objects that relate to the materiality of three resource groups: grains, luxury foods, and textiles. The production of resources such as cotton, coffee, and corn, the globalized trade flows, and the different uses of the goods produced from the resources are closely interwoven with varying manifestations of dependencies.
The exhibition is based on objects from various museums and collections of the university. While on display in four locations across the university until 30 March 2022, it serves as a taster for a much larger exhibition project planned in 2024. The coming exhibition will not only put on display the combined research findings achieved by 2024 but also the process of how our researchers got there. This process implies many discussions that should find their way into this exhibition.
But for now, take a tour around the "Resources of Power" Exhibition to get a taster of what to expect in 2024!
The exhibition is open to the public weekdays during office hours. You are advised to check individual opening times with the respective locations. See more information below. Admission is free of charge. Please note we operate a 2G+ admission policy.
