“Sharmin’s Note”
© Kulturprojekte Berlin and Stadtmuseum Berlin | Photo: Oana Popa-Costea

Sharmin’s Note

A photo of “Sharmin’s Note” hangs in the room “War” at BERLIN GLOBAL. The object is part of an interview project on the topic of flight. We present it in the series “Favourite Object”.

by Stefanie Friedlhuber, Kulturprojekte Berlin
“Sharmin’s Note”
“I don’t really know where I am, it’s the worst day of my life. My son is sick and there is not much food and it is very cold […]”

Sharmin wrote this note in 2014 when she was detained in a Bulgarian prison. As part of the project, ten people who came to Berlin between 1946 and 2018 spoke about their stories of flight. The project was created in collaboration with journalist Zoya Mahfoud, curator of participation Verda Kaya and photographer Benny Golm.

Brenda Spiesbach, Zoya Mahfoud, Verda Kaya and Benny Golm
Kulturprojekte Berlin and Stadtmuseum Berlin, Photo: Oana Popa-Costea

Brenda Spiesbach, Research Associate, tells us why “Sharmin’s Note” is her favourite object at BERLIN GLOBAL.

Brenda Spiesbach
© Kulturprojekte Berlin and Stadtmuseum Berlin | Photo: Oana Popa-Costea

What are your responsibilities in the BERLIN GLOBAL team, Brenda?

I‘m part of the curatorial team for over three years now and my tasks are very diverse: conceptual and textual work, research on themes and objects of the aspects entertainment and war as well as accompanying participatory projects.

Why is “Sharmin’s Note” your favourite object?

I think Sharmin’s note is very impressive because it seems small and inconspicuous. And at the same time it conveys so much: First of all, this handwritten note documents one of the darkest days in Sharmin’s life. The text makes you sad, angry and ashamed of how we Europeans treat people who seek refuge.

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