Within the context of considerations in the sense of an artist empowerment in times of the pandemic, the “Critical Distance – Taking Care” series, first developed within the FREIRAUM space, puts mutual care and the principle of transfer to the fore. Artists/scientists each receive a (CARE)package – repacked, re-sorted or complemented by each respective previous recipient on the basis of an original package.

The addressees unpack their packages while the cameras roll – looking at items, discarding them, selecting them, and brought into the context and reference of the individual theoretical background, the individual artistic and scientific practice, but also of personal experience and stance within and with our time, expressed in language, movement, image and texts that are both one’s own and other people’s. In the set-up of the paired meeting camera – artist/scientist, intimate encounters with the object traces of previous package addressees develop. A continuous discourse opens that will accompany Taking Care beyond just the first episodes and for the duration of the series; and in times of travel restrictions, this shall enable international digital encounters and input, as artists, scientists and activists from all around the globe become package addressees. The input resulting from the reception of each package will be made available online in the form of films lasting 10 to 15 minutes each. In this manner, the cross-references between the protagonists and their contents will constantly be reshuffled for each viewer. Addressees of the first edition are publicist and lecturer Jasamin Ulfat-Seddizquai and artists Volker Hermes and Ben J. Riepe.

Episode 1-3
Idea, Concept & Artistic Direction: Ben J. Riepe, Janine Blöß
Co-Conceptual Collaboration & Communication: Nassrah-Alexia Denif
Guests in Episodes 1-3: Volker Hermes, Jasamin Ulfat – Seddiqzai, Ben J. Riepe
Production Management: Robert Schulz
Camera & Sound: Fabian Schulz
Editing & Subtitles: Lars Klostermann
Intro Music: Misagh Azimi
Transcription: Kseniya Prytula, Marius Ledwig
Translation: Julian Rybarski
Coordination: Izaskun Abrego

Episode 4 & 5
Idea, Concept & Artistic Direction: Ben J. Riepe, Janine Blöß
Co-Conceptual Collaboration & Communication: Nassrah-Alexia Denif
Guests in Episodes 4 & 5: Navtej Johar & Mithu Sen
Production Management: Jan Kollenbach
Camera & Sound: Anuj Chopra
Editing: Fabian Binias
Intro Music: Misagh Azimi
Translation: Julian Rybarski
Coordination: Izaskun Abrego

Supported by Kunststiftung NRW within the framework of FREIRAUM – interdisciplinary conceptual and workspace for the arts. The FREIRAUM project has been made possible through the support granted by TANZPAKT Stadt Land Bund, the Ministry for Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Cultural Department of the City of Düsseldorf, the Kunststiftung NRW.