Two Minutes of Stand Still

About this book

"Inspired by the Israeli memorial day Yom HaShoah, the holiday that commemorates victims and resistance fighters of the Holocaust, Yael Bartana's Two Minutes of Standstill took place on June 28, 2013, at 11 a.m., as part of the Impulse Theater Biennale in the city of Cologne. A symbolic interruption of everyday life, Two Minutes of Standstill was a political act, a social sculpture, and a collective performance. Historically, the act of a silent standstill is a way to commemorate the dead. Bartana's artwork, however, also calls for a reflection on the present. During the preparation for the performance a range of reactions occurred that were both positive and critical. What does the specific way this history is told in Germany tell us about the country today? And why did Bartana's performance provoke such strong reactions? This catalogue is a documentation of Two Minutes of Standstill, revealing the ideas behind the work and the process that led to its realization. The book includes several essays that discuss possible interpretations and consequences of the artwork, questioning the role of history and commemoration in Germany today"--Taken from publisher's website.