Johannes Paul Raether

Oscillating between an audio narrative and visual research, the piece examines the revival of nationalist discourse in Germany during the last decade. It focuses on a specific campaign from 2006, “Germany – Land of Ideas” (an initiative of the German government and industries), which took place along Unter den Linden, the main boulevard at the heart of Berlin. The piece aims to reveal the campaign’s gaps and shortcomings and criticises its narrative that is based upon a revisionist and highly selective reading of history. Prachtstraße interrupts this narrative and adds fictional elements to give a voice to figures that once witnessed the dark moments of the boulevard’s past.