What Happened? 80*81 – 032c Workshop
Glossing over main historical events to reconstruct their bonds to the present is a perverse and lengthy method of investigation. Still, it must have been a kind of obsession for Georg Diez, always referring in his books to quantities of goings-on to base his considerations on its consequences for the present.
This time Diez, together with Christopher Roth gave birth to 80*81, a retro-visionary research in collaboration with many artists, astrologists, philosophers, psychologists, writers, filmakers and actors.
“What Happened?”, the question-title, states the historical point of view from which each of these disciplines pervades the others in changing our everyday reality, emotions, knowledge, views and reactions.
In 1980, Ronald Reagan was elected, Pope John Paul II met Lech Walesa, Andy Warhol dined with William S. Burroughs at the Chelsea Hotel, and John Galliano was a Blitz Kid. And what happened in 1981, when Ayatollah Khomeini released the hostages, and AIDS surfaced? All these matters affected our culture by becoming ingrained in the past, present and future.
The 11 volumes of The 80*81 Book Collection serve as both guide and almanac. Each volume zooms through interviews, original documents, photos and a timeline to arrive at New Year’s Eve 1980.
In honor of Georg Diez and Christoph Roth, Société de 032c bar celebrates 80*81 with sounds, videos and documents this Saturday 20th March @ 032c Workshop, Brunnenstr. 9, 10119 Berlin.
By Elisa Lusso