The red lines of freedom of expression | Lecture, talk and performance

Lecture and discussion with Susann Franke (Gefangenes Wort e.V., Gießen)

Performance by Umar Abdul Nasser (artist, Germany and Iraq)

What does freedom of expression actually mean and what does it mean for the work of artists in different countries? Susann Franke, project manager of „Harbour of Refuge Hesse“ (a project of the association „Gefangenes Wort“), will give an insight into these topics in her lecture and also introduce the association „Gefangenes Wort“. Afterwards, Umar Abdul Nasser will present his artistic exploration of the topic of freedom of expression in his performance. The subsequent discussion will provide an opportunity to talk in more depth about various aspects of freedom of expression in art.

Susann Franke has led the „Harbour of Refuge Hesse“ project of the Gefangenes Wort association in Giessen since 2022. In addition to her studies in German and philosophy in Darmstadt, she gained extensive experience in journalism and was responsible for press and public relations work in the „Writers in Exile“ project of the PEN Centre Germany from 2019 to 2022.

Umar Abdul Nasser, a Berlin-based Iraqi poet, songwriter and performance artist, is known for his unique blend of music, performance, declamation and song. His latest poetry collection „Half bird I am, half tree“ reflects his experiences in cities such as Mosul, Baghdad, Wrocław, Weimar and Berlin, ranging from times of war, conflict and siege to times of peace and freedom. Umar’s works deal with various themes such as human rights, freedom, love and more, capturing different aspects of life. He has been a fellow of both the ICORN and PEN Writers-in-Exile programmes. You can find his multimedia works on his YouTube channel.

An event organised by the Fritz Bauer Forum in cooperation with the Bochum Adult Education Centre and the Bochum City Library

Photo Umar Abdul Nasser: © Wish

Photo: © Klara Kulikova (unsplash)