The Humboldt Forum in Berlin is one of the most controversial museum projects of recent times. Cihan Küçük, a recent graduate of the M.A. Visual and Media Anthropology, dealt with the decolonization of cultural institutions in his master’s thesis. Here he reports on his studies and his creative projects in Berlin’s diverse art and culture scene.
You recently completed the Master’s program in Visual and Media Anthropology at Media University Berlin. Congratulations! What are you doing now?
Having studied under the conditions of the pandemic, I am now enjoying life after the pandemic. During my studies, I started working for an exhibition project called Owned by Others. Right now, we are in the process of creating the catalog for the exhibition. I am also continuing to research the topic of my thesis: decolonizing art institutions. Recently, I wrote an article about the challenge of decolonizing museums for the University of Illinois Chicago’s Fwd: Museum Journal, which is due to be published later this year.
What was the topic of your master’s thesis? Could you please tell us a little about how you discovered your research topic? What was your biggest learning from this experience?
My topic was “A palace and protest in Berlin for the whole world: The Coalition of Cultural Workers Against the Humboldt Forum”. I have been working in the field of museology for a very long time. I am also a writer and editor at e-Skop, a Turkish website for critical art theory and politics. I am responsible for the museum politics section. I have been following protest movements related to museums for ten years. Artwashing, artists‘ rights and decolonization are some of the topics that interest me a lot.
When I moved to Berlin in 2020, the protests against the Humboldt Forum had already started. I decided to stick with this topic because I have been dealing with it for years and it is related to my professional field. During my research, I followed the protest group The Coalition of Cultural Workers Against the Humboldt Forum. I realized that the issue of decolonization is much deeper and more complicated than I thought. Initially, I focused on decolonization, but later, under the guidance of my supervisor Dr. Mark Curran, I discovered the social and economic aspects of Germany’s colonial past.
Why did you choose the Visual and Media Anthropology Master’s program?
I was working for a contemporary art museum called Arter in Istanbul when I applied for the program. We were in the process of moving to a new museum building. For the first semester, studying online was ideal for me. Since I was in charge of production, I have always been interested in filmmaking. I have always found social sciences exciting. I have been writing for years and the opportunity to tell a story through films was tempting.
Did you have any other work experience during or before your Master’s program that you would like to share with us?
Before I decided to continue my education, I did exhibitions for museums. During my research, I had the opportunity to visit an exhibition by the artist initiative Owned by Others. It was mainly about the function of the Museum Island in Berlin. For the second version of the exhibition/intervention, I had the opportunity to work with the group. That was a very interesting experience for me. I have been to Berlin many times before moving here. I have visited the Museum Island several times as a tourist. But now, after being involved in this exhibition, my perception of the Museum Island itself has changed. I also had the opportunity to work with Raul Walch and Lutz Henke, the founders of this project. It was a good opportunity for me to get to know the Berlin art scene.
Which experiences/courses/projects during your studies do you think have benefited you most in your professional life?
“There are several courses that I benefited a lot from. Methodological courses such as ‚Ethnographic Methods‘ taught me how to conduct ethnographic research properly. I also really enjoyed ‚Digital Anthropology‘, ‚Space and Place‘ and ‚Artistic Practice in Transcultural Context‘. I decided to give up my previous career and continue my studies to have time for myself.
I tried to take as much as possible from each course. Since my master's topic was decolonization, I benefited a lot from the course 'Decolonized: Images, Race and Representation'.
Cihan Küçük
I call myself an artist. Part of my work is creating artworks and exhibitions. But I also produce my own works from time to time. I have been taking analogue photographs for years, it is one of my passions. I design screen prints, postcards and zines. I have tried to use my knowledge and production skills for the tasks in the courses. For “Digital Anthropology” I created a screencast film project called: “Are you a bot? A political Voight-Kampff test”. I created two zines as semester projects. For “Artistic Practice in Transcultural Context” a zine called “Wuseuw” and for “Space and Place” one called “Graffiti Flâneur”.
What did you like most about your studies/the course in general?
Working with my supervisor Dr. Mark Curran was a very special experience for me. I already knew his work before I applied for this course. His support was excellent. Writing and filming a final project is quite stressful, as I have already experienced. But working with him was more about discovering different levels.
I really enjoyed the whole process of completing a master's thesis, even in times of the pandemic.
Cihan Küçük
I also really want to mention my fellow students. It is always very interesting and insightful to share your experiences with others and to talk to them about your research topic.
What advice do you have for (prospective) students who want to study Visual and Media Anthropology?
For me, a master’s degree is all about taking time for yourself. I didn’t have an anthropological background. Now anthropology is a part of my life. I still deal with it a lot and think like an anthropologist. If you don’t have an anthropological background like me, I strongly recommend that you look into it. It should also be very helpful to think about what you want to do as a final project as early as possible. While we were choosing our topics, we had the opportunity to discuss our ideas with our fellow students. This was also very insightful.
What are your plans for the future?
I will continue working in the art field. I want to focus more on my projects and productions. In the Berlin art scene there are many opportunities to realize a project. I also believe in the idea of lifelong learning. Maybe in a few years I will continue my education with a PhD.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and projects with us. We wish you all the best for the future!
