THE FREIE KLASSE

The Freie Klasse Project started in 1989 with Students of the Berlin University of the arts organizing their education autonomously, as an alternative to the regular class system.
Organizing seminars, discussions and exhibitions the Freie Klasse became known for their ambition to reshape the institution and establish a collaborative and political approach towards art practise.

When we discussed the situtation of art education in Germany, during the student protests in 2003 the Freie Klasse as a self-institution once again came to mind as a tool to discuss very basic and general political ideas within the University and intervene in this specific social reality. We asked ourselves if we could reactivate the promise of an alternative, which was connected to the term 'Freie Klasse' and use it to continue the discussions of the student protests and connect them with ideas and thoughts in the field of art and culture. We took up what was left of the assets of the old Freie Klasse, started working collaboratively, organizing a different form knowledge production and art education.

For some years between 2003 and 2006 we created a space within the university that could act out different interventions into the normality of the art school, ranging from building a house in its garden to performances as 'Volkswagen students' and acting as oracle priests against the Flick-collection. Situations as heterogenous in approach and practice as puking the german flag into the university hall and hosting an international congress of selforganised artist universities.

The Freie Klasse today has moved on to new members and new ways of doing things. Here is a web archive of the small section in time that we were travelling with this beautiful space ship.

Freie Klasse, Eruptions 2003 to 2006