Zeugnisse des Überlebens. Kunst aus Guantánamo

Roger Willemsen wrote his book "This is Guantánamo" in 2006 and analyzed why the unlawful prison camp in Cuba threatens all people worldwide. He wrote that there was only one radical response to Guantánamo: "It must be made public - and it must be closed." But the camp still exists. Thirty people remain there to this day - most of them since the first days in 2002.

Mansoor Adayfi is one of those who were deported to Cuba. He was 19 years old at the time. He was held captive there for fourteen years of his life, tortured and never charged with a crime. In 2016, the year Roger Willemsen died, he was transferred to Serbia, where he still has to live today - far away from his family in Yemen. His books "Don't forget us here" and "Letters from Guantánamo" are testimonies to his survival.

On this evening, we will look at works of art that were created in Guantánamo and talk about their creators and their stories. Birgitta Assheuer reads letters by Mansoor Adayfi and poems by other prisoners. Insa Wilke talks to Sebastian Köthe, editor of "Poems from Guantánamo" and the research work "Guantánamo bezeugen" about what he has learned from former prisoners like Mansoor Adayfi about the possibility of loving relationships in isolation and about the importance of art in order to survive under extreme conditions.

Throughout the festival, we will be showing works of art created in Guantánamo in our hall. You have the opportunity to visit the exhibition with every reading you attend.

Reduced 10 Euro (only at the Box Office)
The discount applies to pupils, trainees and students with appropriate proof. Reduced tickets are available on presentation of proof at the Box Office.

Kulturparkett Rhein-Neckar e.V.
For every lesen.hören event, we provide a contingent of free tickets for people on low incomes. You can find more information at www.kulturparkett-rhein-neckar.de.