Genossin Sonne (Comrade Sun)

“AG & EM: We find the title Comrade Sun very interesting, along with its connotations. In most languages, the sun is masculine, while the moon is considered feminine – only in German is it the other way around. In mythological and cultural tradition, too, the sun emerges as a masculine power, for example in the figure of the Greek god Helios or in the self-image of the Sun King Louis XIV. The title, on the other hand, makes the sun our ally, who appears both supportive and revolutionary. Was the title a conscious counterpoint to the existing interpretation of the sun?" – And She Was Like Bäm, 12/2025

“[...] 18 artistic positions with almost 30 works [invite] visitors to the exhibition Genossin Sonne (Comrade Sun) to discuss the connections between the revolutionary, the esoteric and the cosmic with fervent conviction. With this original intertwining of fact and speculation, science and culture, the Dortmunder U thus opens up a fascinating exhibition parcours that offers numerous “illuminating moments.” – Kunstforum International, 11/2025

"At Hartware MedienKunstVerein Dortmund, a group exhibition shines a light on the most powerful force in the cosmos. Between visual poetry, space junk and the solar revolution, one thing becomes clear: the sun is not always an ally"– Monopol Magazine Online, 29 October 2025

“The approach taken by curators Inke Arns and Andrea Popelka seems to be to open up spaces for thoughts and feelings without organising them. This makes the exhibition interesting and inspiring, but not always easy to access.” – Kulturwest, 10/2025

"In darkened exhibition halls, visitors can view numerous video works while seated on orange-illuminated seating islands. To prevent the sounds and texts from interfering with each other in the open space, everyone is provided with headphones. The sound switches on automatically in front of the monitor. [...] For all works, especially the videos, it is advisable to read the accompanying brochure for context. The alternative: actively switch off and practise sun salutations at your yoga session before viewing the art." – Trailer-Ruhr, 6 October 2025

"Missy Mag: Why should the sun be our comrade, our – feminist – ally? Inke Arns: Because in German the sun is female, the title thrilled us – co-curator Andrea Popelka and me. It's totally confusing: how can the sun be a comrade? In what struggles?" – Missy Mag, September 2025 issue

"The show was actually supposed to be about revolution. Arns found that too general and too broad and came up with a charming approach that seems rather forced at first, but develops a beautiful obviousness. Revolution was originally an astronomical term for the orbit of celestial bodies around the sun. Copernicus used it that way. It was only with the French Revolution that the term came to be understood primarily in a political sense, as an overthrow of the existing order." – Westfälischer Anzeiger, 16 September 2025

"At first glance, a connection between the sun and revolutions seems far-fetched. But there are exciting scientific theories on this, says Inke Arns, director of the Hartware MedienKunstVerein and curator of the exhibition ’Comrade Sun‘ at the Dortmunder U. “It all sounds esoteric, but I find the fact that scientists are thinking about this very interesting.”’ – EPD, 16 September 2025

"From attempts to map the sun's aura using quantum physics to a piece of crashed space debris, as a parody of Elon Musk and his rockets. The exhibition “Comrade Sun” in Dortmund is really fun." – DLF-Kultur, 15 September 2025

"A smaller version of the exhibition, which focuses on video art, was already on display at the Vienna Festival in 2024. Now in Dortmund, it has been expanded to 2,000 square metres, and one of the most memorable motifs added is the “New Sun” by artist Agnieszka Polska: a sun with big eyes and a pouty mouth speaks to us and tells us how our earthly activities look from above and far away – and, as we know, not everything in heaven is friendly." – WAZ, 11 September 2025

"This sun is simply enchanting. Huge, wide eyes gaze at us. Its eyelashes flutter amiably. But when you put on the headphones, you learn that the sun is worried. “Will tolerance disappear from the face of the earth?” it asks. “The New Sun” is the name of the bright video by Agnieszka Polska, which is likely to make an emotional impact on visitors to the Dortmunder U from Saturday onwards. It is a particularly appealing exhibit among the 30 sometimes huge pictures, videos and installations in the new show “Comrade Sun”, which the Hartware Medienkunstverein is rolling out on the third and sixth floors of the imposing tower." – Ruhrnachrichten, 11 September 2025

"What is there to see in the exhibition? It all looks very spherical? Inke Arns: The sun is a sphere – and when it is depicted, it is often represented as such. We are showing a lot of video works and we have a great exhibition architecture, which was developed by the scenographers Marlene Oeken and Martha Schwind-lina. For this exhibition, we are using two floors in the Dortmunder U, which is twice as much space as in Vienna. We have an open architecture, we have torn down all the walls and are showing the videos in an open space with headphones that always log into the soundtrack of the respective videos in front of the screens." – Trailer-Ruhr, 15 August 2025