Image Courtesy of Nikolaus Brade.
Professor Norbert Palz is an architect and university lecturer and has been president of Berlin University of the Arts (UdK Berlin) since 1 April 2020. He has been professor of digital and experimental design in the architecture programme of the UdK since 2010. Norbert Palz’s teaching and research are situated in the context of art, architecture and technology.
Christian Bracht: The theme of this issue is freedom. In what ways does this concept come up in everyday university life?
Norbert Palz: The situation of the war in Ukraine has created a greater awareness of the concept of freedom in German art schools, including the University of the Arts here in Berlin. We are faced with the task of incorporating truths such as freedom into the structure of a school so that we can truly develop and experience them. When we do that, we can present issues in ways that show how important they are to us and our work.
CB: Do students value these concepts?
NP: We are currently dealing with a generation of students who have developed an emotional awareness of global events. Climate change and the war in Ukraine are perceived as crises that have a physical presence. I feel that there is a real need to integrate these global issues into the curriculum: fear of the future on the one hand, but also what an institution can provide must be repeatedly negotiated in the future because we are limited as institutions. We realise that the students’ expectations of such institutions have grown enormously in terms of psychological support and advice. From my conversations with the students, I have learned about their awareness of the seriousness of the situation and their expectations of shared responsibility and change. As university leaders, we are trying to examine structures much more closely and sensitively.
CB: What does that look like?
NP: We just had a four-semester lecture series on the role and reform of institutions. What we’ve learned over time is that we want people who have emotional and artistic power to give this grounded expression ideologically in society.
You might say we’re doing cultural work and we’re working on a broad, diverse basis of opinions and perspectives which are always being questioned.
CB: Does this give a university more influence in society?
NP: Absolutely! As a place of education, we are always in dialogue with society and we can also continue to shape and change this society. That’s why we have to work with the students on a broader basis because once an issue or an opinion is set fast emotionally, it’s very difficult to regain flexibility and openness.
CB: How do you protect artistic freedom?
NP: By encouraging students to participate actively in committees, for example. We would also like to have student opinions on the presidential board. I would say that freedom in art and freedom in science are particularly important to us now. We must really make an effort to create an appreciation of the value of Germany’s constitution, the Grundgesetz.
Image Courtesy of Saraja Roberta Elez.
CB: Because freedom only exists in democracy and that’s a job for schools too, right?
NP: How to make people understand the value of freedom is an important question because you only appreciate it when it’s gone. For me, it’s about conveying the concept of freedom in a way that can be experienced. That includes literature, opportunities for action, freedom of the press and freedom of expression. We are called upon to provide a real awareness through education.
CB: How political is art?
NP: Art is political because, in order to be relevant, it deals with social issues and draws on them. It is the result of a process of reflection. It always has a political core.
CB: Does that mean that art could do a lot right now to bring the focus back to the concept of freedom?
NP: Art must not allow itself to be exploited or made purely functional. The extent to which art is free is determined by refusal and the opportunity to ask questions through art. Art gives the individual the power to resist a certain kind of common sense. Art can also encourage productive conflict. I think that’s important because this is how art initiates discourse.
CB: And discourse is good for our democracy?
NP: Of course. It’s absolutely crucial because you learn to respect other people’s opinions. We live in a society of complex systems. There’s no mechanical link between input and output, and that’s why discourse is needed. But, it can sometimes be irritating too. Personally, I really value discourse because reaching your goal together means you’re armed for future conflicts.
CB: So I take it that there is still a lot of hope.
NP: We have to make full use of the freedom we have and always remember what a lack of freedom means. We’re in the midst of a major transformation towards a knowledge society and, of course, part of this means that an institution such as our university is opening up, the faculties are opening up and this results in cross-connections that help us look for the best solutions to move things forward together.
As featured in SLEEK 76 FREEDOM. Available in print and digital here.