Best of All • Tim Etchells

In the organizer's words:

The famous thesis that the world we live in is the best of all possible worlds appears as a glowing lettering on the glass Arne Jacobsen Foyer.

At the beginning of the 18th century, the philosopher and polymath Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz sparked a major debate in religious studies and philosophy. In 2018, Tim Etchells, British artist, writer, performer and artistic director of the theater and performance group "Forced Entertainment", explored the Leibniz thesis and realized his widely illuminated neon under the title Best of All. With this famous Leibniz quote, the KunstFestSpiele commemorate the 350-year history of the Grosser Garten and the history of the Herrenhausen Residence, where Leibniz lived for some time, while also taking a look into the future.

Etchells' installation shows us in times of wars, political debates about human and residence rights, the rise of authoritarian powers and increasing natural and climate catastrophes that the Leibniz thesis has not lost any of its socio-political relevance and explosive power over the centuries, but has become even more explosive:

Are we living in "THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS"?

More information → kunstfestspiele.de/best

Accompanying program
Sun 25.05. / 15:00
The best of all possible worlds?
Talk with Mithu Sanyal and Wolfram Eilenberger
Moderation: Friederike Westerhaus
In cooperation with the Literaturhaus Hannover
Arne Jacobsen Foyer
(admission 6 euros, in German)

Venue Arne Jacobsen Foyer, Herrenhäuser Straße 4, 30419 Hanover

Accessibility
Low-audible event / The installation can be viewed from the outside and is therefore barrier-free accessible. Access to the talk on Sun 25.05. in the Arne Jacobsen Foyer is unfortunately not barrier-free due to existing steps.