«The New Uncertainty – Love Edition»
Fatima Moumouni mit ஸ்வஸ்தி சிவசண்முகநாத சர்மா / Swassthi Sivasanmukanatha Sarma

‘The New Uncertainty’ is an experiment in creating a ‘safe space for uncertainty’. Together with her guests, the Zurich-based artist Fatima Moumouni uses this series to seek out moments of conversation that are honest, reflective, self-critical and, above all, unpretentious. The focus is not on finding the perfect position, but on the willingness to allow oneself to be unsettled, to tolerate contradictions and to think together in public.

For it is precisely in progressive discourses that – almost by definition – there is still much to reflect on, beyond the pitifully reactionary ‘WHAT ON EARTH ARE WE ALLOWED TO SAY ANYMORE?!’, in which the social negotiation of language, identity politics and equality is often trapped.

For the current Love Edition, the focus is on love: as a feeling, as a practice, as a political force, as a driving force for change, and as a canvas for cringe and kitsch.

The theme of this issue: ‘Where, how, what is “community”?’

This issue explores how privilege is handled within struggles and communities. It also looks at Black-Tamil alliances, as well as the lack of such alliances, exclusions, disappointments – and hopes.

This raises the following questions: How do we decide what to fight for? Is it always just about ourselves? What is the value of talking about our own privileges? And how do these privileges continue to have an impact even in contexts where we are actually fighting together against oppression? How do we shift the focus of our activism away from ourselves? What role does class play?

Our guest this time: ஸ்வஸ்தி சிவசண்முகநாத சர்மா / Swassthi Sivasanmukanatha Sarma

She was born in Zurich and grew up as the child of Tamil refugees. She writes, performs on stage, curates discussion series and, above all, sees herself as an intersectional activist. In her work, she combines her sociological understanding of the world with activist and artistic practice. Her writing and political activism are both direct and personal. She writes, organises, teaches and speaks on topics such as chronic illness, the resistance practices of the Tamil diaspora, intersectional feminism, accessibility and queerness – always with a focus on how power structures shape and transform everyday life.

Accessibility and practical Information

• Step-free access

• Language: In spoken German with DSGS interpreting

• Translation into DSGS: The conversation between Fatima Moumouni and ஸ்வஸ்தி சிவசண்முகநாத சர்மா / Swassthi Sivasanmukanatha Sarma is interpreted by Kristina Janković into German Swiss Sign Language (DSGS). The karaoke session will then take place in DSGS without interpretation.

• The event will last approximately 2 hours and includes a 20-minute break.