Beyond States: The Boundaries of Statehood; .
Photo by Markus Tretter.
Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Buchholz Berlin/Cologne/New York.
Beyond States: The Boundaries of Statehood; .
Photo by Markus Tretter.
Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Buchholz Berlin/Cologne/New York.

Zeppelin Museum, Friedrichshafen, 2021:

Is the state a safe haven or a danger zone? Hoarding purchases in the supermarket, emergency lists, civil protection and pandemic plans: “Prepping” is currently more relevant than ever, at the same time the protective function of the state and thus also the topic of state borders are being discussed. Some borders are open and passable, others are disputed, many are heavily guarded.

The view from above, made possible by flying, relativizes borders and thus reflects the concepts of national territories and borders. In addition to the changed perspective, states still have to deal with some challenges: Who owns the sky and how high does a state reach? The airspace can be both public space, which makes cross-border communication and mobility possible, as well as a nationally and supranationally regulated sphere or a theater of war.

The exhibition “Beyond States. On the Limits of Statehood” in the Zeppelin Museum is dedicated to these opposing developments and, based on the three constituent characteristics – state territory, citizenship and state authority – asks about the current and future meaning of the state. At the same time, however, it also takes a look back to the 19th century and supplements the artistic positions with exhibits that address borders, statehood and the associated propaganda in aviation.

The interdisciplinary exhibition will be shown in the Zeppelin Museum on Lake Constance. A special place to which the exhibition refers in many ways. For a long time, Lake Constance was a no man’s land under international law. Germany, Austria and Switzerland have only partially committed themselves to legally binding borders. The state borders have not been clearly defined since 1648, and the Obersee is considered communal property. Here the borders of the states blur.

Internationally renowned artists reflect on fantasies and realities ranging from a state crisis to state collapse, ranging between dystopia and utopia. Starting with right-wing libertarian ideologies, which see the realization of ultimate freedom in overcoming the state, through to the idea of ​​flexible citizenship, which is based on subscription or streaming portals. But the exhibition also takes a look at those who are preparing for a collapse of the state order, such as conspiracy theorists and preppers. At the same time, however, it also takes a look back to the 19th century and supplements the artistic positions with exhibits that address borders, statehood and the associated propaganda in aviation.

Curators: Ina Neddermeyer, head and Caroline Wind, research associate in the Art department at the Zeppelin Museum, Jürgen Bleibler, head and Felix Banzhaf, research associate in the Zeppelin department at the Zeppelin Museum.

Artists: Nevin Aladağ ,  James Bridle,  Simon Denny, Vera Drebusch & Florian Egermann, Forensic Oceanography / Forensic Architecture, Jacob Hurwitz-Goodman & Daniel Keller, Peng! Collective, Christopher Kulendran Thomas, Henrike Naumann, Jonas Staal

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