Germany Today- exhibition at Deutsches Hygiene-Museum Dresden from March 8 to October 12, 2014

Yesterday  I happened to be part of the first group who has been guided through the exhibition "Das Neue Deutschland - Von Migration und Vielfalt" at Deutsches Hygiene-Museum Dresden. So, of course, I have to report you on it!  First of all, in order to avoid misunderstandings: nowadays  Hygiene-Museum does not deal anymore with  subjects of "hygiene" or "health care" in the strict sense of the word as it did back in the time of its foundation in 1912. Back then, the museum was meant to promote and democratize  hygiene, diet, healthcare and sanitary improvement.
Today the museum has turned into an open forum for discussion covering the cultural, social and scientific revolutions taking place in our society at the beginning of the 21st century.
Usually, the exhibitions at  Hygiene-Museum are planned and set up  in a way that touches all your senses to make the experience as real as possible.


Germany Today- Migration and Diversity

Entering the first room we are immersed in warm light, wooden boxes are piled up in form of a skyline, some of the boxes are topped with the landmarks of the world's big capitals. The Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the Sidney Opera House among others: we are in the hall of desire for a better life.

What struck me most of the exhibition have been the two paths of crossing a border: one for the owners of a problem-free passport, easy, the sparkling world of commerce at immediate reach, cheering people in the arrival area.
The other path for asylum seekers, uncertain, difficult, hopeless, often a dead end street.

If you have the possibility you definitely should come and visit. There's so much more to learn and to experiment. About reciprocal prejudices, racism (open or hidden in the subconscious), religion, Saxonian history of migration, migration covered by the media over the last 50 years, migration in the big business "football", testimonials of immigrants living here....

Moreover, if you are further interested in the subject, I strongly recommend you to read Doug Saunders' Arrival City.

The exhibition ends in a large aerial room, where you find plenty of space to sit down and reflect. Whoever you are and wherever you stand, the questions displayed on the walls might help you to clear up your mind.