The Erosion. An Art Installation about the Collective Memory of WWII - Instytut Pileckiego

Created by the star new media art & design collective panGenerator.

The Erosion. An Art Installation about the Collective Memory of WWII

An Art Installation by the star new media art & design collective panGenerator.

Opening Date: 01.09., 18.00-20.00

Duration: 02.-07.09., 18.00-22.00

Where: Pariser Platz (in front of the Brandenburg Gate)

Through this installation, visitors will have the opportunity to engage with a deeply thought-provoking representation of how we remember - or misremember - our collective past. We invite you to experience this piece of art, and reflect on the crucial role we all play in preserving historical memory in an age where forgetting has become all too easy.

Moreover, the installation aims to provoke to reflect offering a snapshot of the German public´s awareness and knowledge about the history of WW II and Poland. How so?  

In the course of the creation process it has been "fed" with data stemming from a survey that Ipsos Deutschland conducted on behalf of the Pilecki Institute Berlin in August 2024. It is based on a representative sample of 2,000 German respondents aged 16 to 65.

About the Installation:

EROSION is more than just a sculpture; it’s a poignant reflection on the fragility of collective memory, particularly concerning the harrowing events of the Second World War. With the passing of generations that experienced the war firsthand, the preservation of memory is becoming increasingly dependent on historical documentation, education, and media representation. Yet, these sources are vulnerable to distortion and misinformation, leading to a fragmented understanding of history.

panGenerator's installation captures this gradual erosion of collective memory. The sculpture itself takes the form of a cuboidal structure, reminiscent of a piece of rock, worn and perforated as if it could disintegrate at any moment. Its design symbolizes the fragile nature of historical awareness and memory. This brutalist/constructivist piece is partially covered with custom-designed alphanumerical displays that showcase data on how collective memory of WWII is changing, based on the latest research conducted by the Pilecki Institute Berlin.

The installation, however, is not static. Through motion design and animated typography, EROSION highlights the volatility of historical knowledge and the inevitable process of forgetting. The letters and words shift, scatter, and fall apart, visually echoing how memory itself can deteriorate over time. In this way, EROSION urges its audience to reflect on the importance of preserving historical truth and confronting the mechanisms of forgetting.

About panGenerator:

panGenerator is a new media art & design collective (Krzysztof Cyblulski, Krzysztof Goliński, Jakub Koźniewski) based in Warsaw, Poland, active since 2010. panGenerator works are characterized by the blend of digital realm with physical world - the group is mixing bits & atoms to create audience-engaging, dynamic and tangible experiences that blur the common divisions between art, design and engineering, creating large scale interactive installations commissioned by cultural institutions and commercial brands as well as purely experimental musical interfaces or speculative and critical pieces of art.

PanGenerator works were presented worldwide at numerous art & design galleries, festivals and exhibitions such as SXSW, Ars Electronica, ZKM Karlsruhe, Dutch Design Week, Milan Design Week, Athens Digital Art Festival, LPM, Pause Fest Melbourne, Design Museum Holon, PrintScreen Festival, nuit numérique @ Saint-Ex Reims, WRO Media Art Biennale and many more. Among many awards the group received the most noteworthy are Cannes Golden Lion, Prix Ars Electronica Honorary Mention and “POLITYKA” Passports (one of the most prestigious cultural awards in Poland). https://www.pangenerator.com