Mar’a’yeh: Entropy
With Entropy, LABA Berlin and the Deutsche Islam Akademie continue their collaborative project Mar’a’yeh, an interfaith and intercultural residency hosted at Künstlerhaus Bethanien.
Rooted in LABA’s concept of a cultural laboratory, Mar’a’yeh creates a space for artistic experimentation, critical inquiry, and mutual learning. The title Marayeh (مرايه), the derives from the Levantine Arabic word for “mirror” (مرايه), which contains the Hebrew word with the same meaning: “Mar’a” (מַראָה). Together, they form an infinity mirror; the words are inseparable, yet their connection is invisible to the untrained eye. Art, in this context, becomes a mirror that reflects the multifaceted essence of society without simplification, dissection and categorisation. Mar’a’yeh aims to challenge perceptions of Jewishness and Muslimness in German society, to stimulate dialogue and ultimately to promote empathy.
The program invites Berlin-based artists of Jewish or Muslim heritage to take part in a year-long process of exchange, dialogue, and co-creation. Centered on the theme of entropy, the residency explores ideas of disorder, transformation, and resilience as they relate to Jewish and Muslim lived experiences. Over the course of the year, fellows immerse themselves in Jewish and Islamic texts, using them as sources of inspiration for both their artistic practices and conversations with one another. The program is guided and enriched by a diverse team of scholars, academics, social practitioners, and artists from both communities, who provide intellectual input, critical feedback, and practical support.
The residency will conclude in winter 2025/26 at Künstlerhaus Bethanien with an exhibition and a series of performances that showcase the artworks developed during the program and bring them into a new dialogue.