Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen

ifa blog

Interviews, essays, reports and videos

The ifa blog takes a lively look at the many different areas of ifa's work and international cultural relations.

The blog articles can be filtered by topic, such as human rights, civil society, media, and (post-)colonialism, as well as by contributions from ifa's individual projects, such as exhibition funding, the Martin Roth Initiative's protection programme or the CrossCulture programme.

Blog Iris Lenz, Head of the ifa Galleries

Iris Lenz and the ifa Galleries

By Hannah Latsch

What distinguishes the ifa Galleries? Why is the location of a gallery decisive for its programme? And what are current themes in art? Gallery director Iris Lenz looks back on 30 years in her dream job.
Video Rabbi Andreas Nachama, filmstill

Jewish Life in Germany and France

Rabbi Andreas Nachama in an exchange with representatives of French Jewish communities about the life of Jewish communities in Germany, their goals and their integration into everyday life (in German and French).
Report 'Bruderkuss' between Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker by Dimitriy Vrubel on the monument East Side Gallery in Berlin.

The Power of Feelings

By Daphne Büllesbach

What role do feelings play in politics? And which emotions do we associate with Europe? Activist Daphne Büllesbach about her tour through the Republic of Moldova: we we should reflect on joint objectives rather than the isolating feeling of fear.
Interview Illustration: People of different origins, city skyline in the background

Opportunities in the Crisis

Interview with Petra Bendel

'We can do this' – four words that have had an influence on the debate on integration in Germany. Where do we stand now? Where does Europe’s migration policy stand? A conversation about integration, refugee policy and society’s attitude towards immigration.
Blog Visitors of the exhibition 'Leila Alaoui' in front of a photograph

Activist Behind a Lens

Interview with Christine Alaoui

When the young photographer Leila Alaoui was shot in a terrorist attack in 2016, her activism against racism received revitalised attention. At the ifa Gallery Stuttgart her mother Christine Alaoui talks about Leila’s connection to the people she photographed and how her legacy shall be continued.

Report Young woman with red paint at the Holi festival, photo: Vinit Vispute via Unsplash

The Brave Women of Pune

By Tanja Brandes

What does the history of the German women’s movement since the fall of the Berlin Wall have to do with women in Asia? During her tour through Malaysia, Singapore and India, Tanja Brandes learned that they are much closer to each other than she thought.
Interview [Translate to english:]

The Voice of the Silent

Interview with Stefan Weinert

Whether in front of the camera as commander of a concentration camp or behind it, searching for the blind spot in inner German history: the culture of remembrance is a matter of concern for Stefan Weinert. He has been involved with the traumas that many people worry about in their hearts, even 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Report A bullet missed four influencial people until it hits a child; © Til Mette

How a Cartoonist Re-learned Drawing

By Til Mette

Where there is no freedom of the press journalists are confronted by corruption, imprisonment, kidnapping and murder. What Til Mette, a German cartoonist, learned in Mexico City changed not only him, but also his style of drawing.