The UNESCO City of Media Arts Karlsruhe stands for an open, diverse, and democratic society. With the installation Radical Climate Action Bird by Dennis Siering, the exhibition Media art is here presents a work that addresses pressing questions of climate, nature, and coexistence, critically reflecting on our relationship to the environment as well as to political attitudes.
Precisely because art provokes thought and opens up societal debate, it also evokes opposition. However, we strongly condemn the agitation and attacks by right-wing populist and anti-democratic actors that have been directed against this work and its artistic message. Such reactions only underscore that engagement with issues such as climate justice, democracy, and social responsibility is more necessary today than ever.
We take a clear stance: for democracy, for artistic freedom, for open discourse—and against all forms of misanthropic thinking. Dennis Siering’s work is not only an example of artistic practice, but also reflects the very values that UNESCO recognized in designating Karlsruhe a Creative City of Media Arts. Moreover, Karlsruhe is known as the “City of Law”: for over 300 years it has stood for law and freedom, as a place where the history of democracy and constitutional rights has been written. Many sites in Karlsruhe bear witness to this, including Germany’s two highest federal courts. Within this context it becomes clear: antifascism is not merely resistance to authoritarian ideologies, but the expression of a commitment that strengthens and protects democracy. Radical Climate Action Bird invites us to question existing power structures, ecological responsibility, and our relationship to nature in light of these democratic principles.
The values of UNESCO—peace, human dignity, freedom, cultural diversity, and sustainability—are inseparably linked with the mission of the UNESCO City of Media Arts Karlsruhe. We see it as our duty to defend these values visibly, especially when they come under attack from anti-democratic voices.
We therefore reaffirm: The UNESCO City of Media Arts Karlsruhe stands for artistic freedom and the democratic foundations of our society. We stand in solidarity with the artists and all those involved who, through their work, courageously contribute to shaping our world in more open, sustainable, and just ways.
