umbenennen?!
The project “umbenennen?!” examines the history and meaning of street names in Berlin as a reflection of social values and political upheavals. The two-year exhibition series will examine how naming and renaming shape public memory. Topics such as the memory of National Socialism, anti-fascist, feminist and decolonial perspectives as well as the visibility of women in urban space are discussed.
"umbenennen?!" examines the history of street renaming in Berlin and shows how they reflect social debates. She examines various aspects of public memory, from honoring resistant figures to feminist and decolonial initiatives that argue for a pluralistic memory.
The exhibition is a joint project of the Active Museum Fascism and Resistance in Berlin e.V. and the Berlin Regional Museums Working Group, funded by the LOTTO Foundation Berlin. It can be seen in all twelve Berlin districts until October 2025.
Task: A wide variety of printing, construction and assembly work
- Frame and exhibition system manufactured and assembled
- Steel bars cut and powder coated
- Steel rods provided with holes
- Steel bars welded together
- Honeycomb cardboard panels inserted into the steel bars
- Smaller elements were made from steel rods and were then assembled
- Sturdy cardboard cubes constructed
- Cardboard cut and assembled into cubes
- SA film printed and glued to cubes
- Cubes placed on site
- Honeycomb cardboard panels printed and assembled
- Printed on both sides with motifs on a large plate printer
- Inserted and screwed into the frame and exhibition system
- Different sizes
- Wooden construction for aluminum composite panels
- Woods cut to size
- Screwed to the fence from both sides
- Extra slats attached for screwing on the aluminum composite panels
- Aluminum composite panels foiled, laminated and assembled
- Film printed with motifs using a roll printer
- Glued to aluminum composite panels
- Protected with anti-graffiti laminate
- Attached to pre-installed wooden structure with screws
- Steel stakes anchored in the ground
- To use frame and exhibition systems outdoors
- Holes dug in the ground
- Steel stakes inserted into the ground
- Frame and exhibition system placed on the steel posts
- Wallpaper processed
- Wallpaper printed with motifs using a roll printer
- Wallpaper delivered to the museum
Material:
The following materials were used in this project:
- Honeycomb cardboard panels
- Aluminum composite panels
- SA-vinyl
- Metal rods
- Wood in different types
- Cardboard
- Wallpaper
Execution:
We have taken over several parts of the exhibition. This includes both indoor and outdoor sections in the districts of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Steglitz-Zehlendorf and Tempelhof-Schöneberg.
umbenennen?! – Steglitz-Zehlendorf
In collaboration with the design agency Franke Steinert we've created a unique framing and display system that presents large honeycomb core board boxes in a modern zigzag design. The panels were printed, delivered, assembled and assembled according to the agency's design.
The honeycomb core panels were carefully printed and professionally assembled. The sturdy cardboard cubes were assembled precisely and then glued with printed film. The cubes ideally combine functionality and design because they are robust enough to be used as seating.
umbenennen?! – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
In the Villa Oppenheim right in the heart of Charlottenburg we have created another part of the Berlin-wide exhibition “umbenennen?!” been implemented. The frame and exhibition system was once again used for indoor use. Equipped with printed honeycomb core panels.
We also supplied printed wallpaper, which was wallpapered by the museum itself. The cubes on the Steglitzer part are also part of the exhibition and are constructed using the same process.
umbenennen?! – Tempelhof-Schöneberg
For the new exhibition section in Berlin's Tempelhof-Schöneberg district, we implemented a robust and weatherproof outdoor installation.
We screwed wood onto both sides of an existing fence - this created a stable basis for 18 aluminum composite panels, which were covered with printed foil and protected with an anti-graffiti laminate. The panels show large-format motifs that create a harmonious overall picture across several elements - precisely aligned by our assembly team.
The frame and exhibition system from the other “umbenennen?!” exhibition was also used again - this time as a floor installation with solid steel rods for permanent outdoor use over the duration of the exhibition.
umbenennen?! – Lichtenberg
As part of the project, a rubber floor was precisely cut and laid, but it had to be removed afterwards due to the strong smell. The frame and exhibition systems were also used again for this part of the exhibition, presenting both the core exhibition and the exhibition part designed specifically for the Lichtenberg location.
Honeycomb cardboard panels were integrated into the frame systems to create a light yet stable exhibition space. A matching table was made from the same material as the frame systems, which was supplemented by a small magnetic board to which magnetic foil can be attached. The magnetic letters we supply enable flexible and interactive design.
In addition, cardboard cubes were delivered that were covered with a special SA vinyl and serve as independent exhibits. We had already built the cubes in advance. In addition, a large foil plot was attached to a wall surface, which visually supports the exhibition and draws the visitors' attention.
Overall, the combination of modular frame systems, individually designed elements and innovative materials offers an attractive and flexible exhibition architecture that is used both at the Lichtenberg location and in some cases at other locations.
We are pleased to be part of this important project again and to be able to contribute to the visibility of social issues in public spaces.
