I TRUST PAIN: Richie Culver
I TRUST PAIN showcases a painting and soundwork by Richie Culver. Created specifically for the location, this unique pair of works was created to be experienced in tandem. Presented in their venue-specific format, the painting's powerful text and accompanying audio are both immediately gripping and contextualised by the reality of Hermannplatz.
For many, the notion of trusting pain for anything other than a warning will be foreign. Yet for others, pain is a constant companion, perhaps more reliable and predictable than anything or anyone else. I TRUST PAIN refers to this paradoxical relationship with suffering, particularly among addicts, homeless, and other marginalised groups.
Culver knows this feeling from darker times in his life. While living in Berlin over a decade ago, he spent time negotiating the landscape of Hermannplatz and U8 Line when struggling with addiction. The painting and sound work reference this time and its emotions as much as they reflect the common feelings of the marginalised groups prevalent in and around Hermannplatz, where pain watches with an omniscient eye over some, while others are merely passing through.
In stark white capital letters on a black oil on canvas, the painting unapologetically confronts passersby and communicates the emotion for those who feel this way but may never get the chance to. The sound work further amplifies the bleakness of this reality. Underlaid with the roaring low frequencies of the station and U-Bahn, the narration is an uncomforting look into the reality of those shunned by society. It reflects a poignant struggle for self-worth, acceptance, and the search for meaning amidst overwhelming darkness.
By shining a light on the emotions of those not heard, the exhibition seeks to raise awareness and foster understanding. Furthermore, the sale of limited-edition cassettes of the sound work in covers featuring hand-written I TRUST PAIN lettering will support the organisation FIXPUNKT, which is dedicated to helping the homeless most affected by the drug crisis in Berlin.
FIXPUNKT operates a streetwork team in Neukölln and runs the contact centre and drug consumption room “Druckausgleich” on Karl-Marx-Straße. They also manage a peer project, providing paid employment to individuals suffering from addiction, (currently in the form of collecting syringes). They have secured funding to open another contact centre in Neukölln. As a result, they have a strong presence in Neukölln and is active in many initiatives to support those in need.
FIXPUNKT PRÄSENTATION (DEUTSCH)
FIXPUNKT PRESENTATION (ENGLISH)
