Transcripts For DW Lehmann 20240711

And im a citizen of the world thats certainly because of my own biography. Well, i fled from breslau during the bombardment, including i grew up in a small town. And libraries were how i got to know the world. I visited north africa as a schoolboy. I was 17 or 18 and we drove folks who are going to band through all the north african countries. I was always drawn to Foreign Countries because i had this curiosity about how other people live, think and work. And it was always worth it. Yes, im a citizen of the world, and this is the story of a the story of the final year in the korea of detail a man. He has shaped the german Cultural Landscape of the last decades like few others with his incredible ability to grasp the right moment. Hes been head of the gemma National Library, the driving force behind the lens Famous Museum island, and president of germanys cultural powerhouse. The good to institute, but his last 12 months didnt go as planned. A final official trip to the african continent. After a long flight, the president of the gerta institute touched down in namibia for my german colony. The history is everywhere in the capital of into the colossal Independence Museum tells the story of the long struggle for liberation from colonialism. And the most recent chapter of that story is all about restitution. Bringing namibias cultural artifacts back to the country. Hendrik is a case in point. The tribal leader is in the may be a national hero, thanks to his role in the resistance against german colonial rule. At the end of the 19th century. That boy, symbolic bible and whip, were taken by the germans after his death. Their return was an important 1st step. Islam is going to spread. It isnt just the removal of objects. Its basically the breaking of people of personalities of their selfdetermination and selfconfidence killing. This was coming along. He owns them, cannot be glossed over. Its doing this is simply a beginning. Theres a lot more to be done yet still inside. So nows the time to get to know each other show to talk to africans in africa about these experiences. You know, to Exchange Ideas so that these stories can be told of children of limon was also in the maybe a to visit the local good to institute in the center of into its one of 157, across the world. Germanys National Cultural institution is active in nearly 100 countries. With more than 3 and a half 1000 employees. Its mission is to promote the german language and strengthen cultural collaboration. The team here had spent weeks preparing a major conference, the topic. What should a post Colonial Museum look like . The Conference Venue was in the 2 tura, a former apartheid era township on the outskirts of into the conference was part of a long term project that brings together Museum Experts and Creative Minds from across africa. If you dont believe me, we believe in the unity even in the 12 years hes been president of the good to institute, a man has developed good relationships with partners in africa. So there was a sense that things were coming full circle for him. His very 1st official trip was to another former german colony. Flash back to 2008, layman, fresh in the job, travelled to tanzania with good news. The years of austerity were over. After a decade of being closed, the go to institute in Dar Es Salaam would be reopened if the object that others are laymens african counterparts hoped that his special interest in the continent would live on even after he left. Of course, every person who lives there is a potential drop, but hopefully that the person who comes is someone who also has a deep understanding of africa because africa is not a complex. And its also what good a deep scars. So i hope that were attacks over to someone who is sensitive, someone will score so just and someone who also has the pressures and the passion for the continent and the colonial past was ever present in the discussions. But the Conference Also revealed a bright new job narration coming up in the arts and Museum Worlds wide. Philemon fresh concept site digitalisation made this conference stand out. Today the society in which we find ourselves in today does not agree with the principles of formal museums. So if you cant communicate to an audience, you dont understand, you know, you need be said, the median age of africa is 90. So its really critical that we start asking this question that who are we speaking to . How are we speaking to them . What platforms are they using that now it was farewell to africa. The continent that changed how close detail a man saw the world. How they were, ive always found it terrible that africa is only associated with negative stories. I have experienced so many positive things and i think we simply have to get them across to the muslim world is good news needs to be given a chance as well. All that would soon come back in germany. In a few weeks later, they go to Institute Head at cleared at the frankfurt books and the worlds biggest media trade fair with the book and Media Industry come together to network. Negotiate celebrate and debate with the pass a stage for laymen to talk about his experiences in the into the say i was expecting 300000 visitors to franklin still spear stands for freedom of expression and diversity of opinion. So its locked in on my calendar that i build everything around their dates. For me, its both a duty. The pleasure of the book also meant returning to the roots, a mans career. Cough a century ago. He studied physics and mathematics in this part of western germany before making the decision to devote himself to library science. It was 1968 in frankfurt was a booming metropolis. Consumption and growth were being celebrated in the new shopping streets, as well as at the stock exchange. But germany was awoken from this daydream of prosperity by voices of protest from the streets. Students were rebelling against an outdated system and capitalism. The protesters sought intellectual support from the neo marxist thinkers of the socalled Frankfurt School. They, however, rejected violent social revolution. Was no revolutionary iser, and the street was not his arena, but he did want to bring about change. His chance came in the form of the frankfurt city and university library. When i was 33. 00, i had the privilege of becoming director of the library there. I tried to reunite the whole Frankfurt School to the cities of critical theory. So i brought together the literary estates and archives of laos whove been taught to make the library in frankfurt, a center of the last 15 years later in 1988 and was appointed director of the National Library in frankfurt. Or more precisely, the west, german half of it, the other half was in life to germanys 2 national libraries. The cold war even divided the world of good books. When i became general director of the National Library in frankfurt in 88. 00, i made my 1st trip to live. I didnt think it was right for us to be separate entities. But given that we were founded on common goals, we talked about that in leipsic. This group you visited at the end of the 1980 s. Was in pretty rough shape for decades after the division of germany. This once flourishing city of literature was in steep decline. As was the entire communist state, the regime was crumbling. He went there to visit the socalled memory of the nation, the German Library and like this was founded in 1912 to collect all german language publications under one roof in 1949, it became the Central Library of the work state. Meanwhile, the weston counterpart was set up in frankfurt with the saying goals. Then in the autumn of 1909, everything changed 1st in like then in berlin and across the whole of east germany. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets in a peaceful revolution flanked by writers like stephan haim. What a transformation. Its as if someone has opened the windows after all these years of stagnation started, not she was the people liberated themselves from communist rule and east germany fell apart. Lehmans informal talks with librarians and say, suddenly became a Political Mission to really, you know, fi the institution. What would become of the German Library in life has been a library in there since 1974 and was part of negotiations after the wall came down. He was among those who feared that east germany would end up on the losing side of reunification with the rules. We sat here in this room because he and his partner sat here at the front and i was sitting on one of the chairs at the back somewhere. I can remember it quite clearly. Initially there was a brief silence. He must have been asking himself how we in life would react to these invaders. But it wasnt an invasion. He was pretty clear about that. He said we were working on a common plan because one of the 1st sentences i can still remember was, the greater germany thats coming into being here could certainly use a National Library with 2 locations. Instead of offering 1st it was night. And frankfurts name and solution safeguarded the internal unity of the National Library and march 990. 00, we were united and we bonded in some funny ways. For example, we met halfway between live frankfurt and the city of funk. And we formed a joint soccer team. We put on a review show. In other words, we got to see the real people behind their organizational roles. Thats how we built up a report. In august, 1982, german states signed the unification treaty and crown princes palace, and the status of the new National Library was made official, including its cation. Thats when the real began that i want to get picked on and he always looked to the future and told us all along with him. And he had to tackle some difficult problems. For example, marshalling the stasi investigation and the staff cuts as well, but it wasnt necessarily easy. He did it with the kind of rigor you need in a leader for Something Like that. But he was also sympathetic. So i dont think anyone really felt hurt because that was quite an achievement of traits if you like cigs the life we direct to since 912 lords of the a more civilized in oil paint on the wall. Opposite close detail. A man in black and white. The portrait was made by his friend, superstar photographer Helmut Newton and not only marks the beginning of a new era, but was also open to interpretation as it isnt my yet so 1st of all, its a very down to earth. Spirit of the 2nd, the image suggests that he is striving upwards, Something Like a tree of man. How hes deceived, also plays an Important Role for him. Thats clear. And you can also see that he has a sense of how an image functions and how to come across well in a new ecological age. Exposed concrete, steel and glass below that on 3 floors, an underground deposit tree. 30000 square meters of books. Frank long planned new german National Library building was completed in 1997 degrees. The chancellor himself attended the inauguration and what course was an average, but nothing firm after the ceremony, he wanted to see the books. So we went into the underground stacks and we barely made it out again because cole was so fascinated walking along the shelves. They were like a chronicle of history because everything was chronologically arranged is in was a key, kept blowing out different books. I said, mr. Chancellor, we should really get back to our guests. Didnt interest him. I think we were in the stacks for 3 hours. That was call he always had a lot of time for books. And for the library, there was mostly due to political one year and the last election later call it was no longer chancellor pete handed power to get how exclude the seats of government in parliament. Moved from dawn to berlin and took on a new position as president of the pression Cultural Heritage foundation. On the threshold of the new millennium, it was germanys most important cultural role. It brought with it the chance to reshape the face of the Nations Capital with the help of a little political good. Well, it was a strong supporter of Museum Island. We didnt have to call on his name, but knowing that someone saw this cultural long sample as the intellectual center of germany was very important to us, all she did in 2000 days at the age of 68, lehmann made another big korea may becoming president of the good to Institute Chancellor Angela Merkel paid him a personal visit when he took office. It was a 1st and also a sign of the growing global significance of cultural diplomacy. One day it was important for us that the chancellor made such a clear signal. So soon after i had begun my time as you know, to Institute Director in munich. So those were my 3 encounters and they were all positive. Im quite an independent spirit and independence has always been important to me. I dont belong to a Political Party so i can always speak personally based on facts. And that probably wasnt a bad thing either. To support not only in the government but also in Parliament Said no, but he was then president of the bundestag. Im one of the most experienced members of parliament because a man skillful balancing act between culture and politics in mind was on the way i see it. He was always there, especially when it came to german cultural policy. And as he doesnt compete with artists, which is something best not done in a role like that, neither does he display the at times borderline affectations of a successful manager. But rather he connects the 2 creating both internal and external consensus in the open. Thats important for the image and effectiveness of institutions like this. It will be used in 2900 renowned german violinist, honestly more to scope. 20 of the worlds biggest prizes, the premium imperioli awarded by the japan are to say, ca sion lehmann has been an International Advisor to the prize for years responsible for recommending candidates. This is a violinist was his choice. It was a tightrope between distance and proximity. But that is more important to laymen than ostentatious friendship in culture, as well as in politics. The meiji came then a traditional site for formal celebrations at amongst the parks and palaces near the legendary meiji shrine. In the heart of tokyo hosted the awards ceremony. Though its not like im one unit i guess must live man was quite at home in the highly formal setting. Prince and princess itachi were present on behalf of japans imperial din. A state excellence is distinguished guests with an equivalent value of 125000 euros. Its the richest prize in the world and testament to japans commitment to the arts. Him and it was really a calm presence in the middle of everything running things and giving everyone the feeling that they were at the center of proceedings. In fact, it was he who was probably at the heart of it all, holding the reins when terror in germany and the everyday routine as they get institute at the cultural institutions headquarters near the center of munich. Its time for the socalled president ial breakfast. Its a way for a layman to ensure that internal exchanges can happen and free from a strict top down hierarchy. That something that 50 years of leadership experience has taught him. Im not the type to float above everyone giving orders or one president of president ial records does a good example or does it. Its once a month and everyone can calm. They dont have to because theres a theme which can also be decided by those attending talk together about issues of language and culture, finance or whatever. And we part with the revealing of togetherness. But it also means that i get a sense of what ideas there are in the organization was and which of them we can make you so clearly, 500 to Institute Employees work in the building, an example of german postwar modernism. The architecture reflects the south image of the institution which was founded in 1951. Practicality, clear lines transparent. Say its all more than just deficit. I really value lima. Above all, i appreciate his unequivocal belief in liberalism and the importance of civil society. His conviction that we as the go to institute play an important mediating role and his courage to be quite public about his conviction. Secretary general, your highness is the manager from munich. He runs the different to institute locations in projects around the world together with commercial direct, polack, only klaus detail, a man has his own office that the president of the Good Institute is an honorary position with a focus on democracy. Believes that thats more important than ever. Were seeing an oversimplification and more brutality in our disagreements. And that worries me because we can only credibly represent our own institut around the world. Germany itself is in a position to correct these things and to create a politics thats free and committed to human rights. For all, racism is a dangerous threat that impacts our own credibility. Thats why we also want to have a stronger presence within germany. In terms of Cultural Education in the court order and the mahanta cunto is the new landmark on bangkoks skyline. You can get a great view of the city from the top man turned 80 at the end of february 2020. A few days later he was climbing up to thailands highest viewing platform. The booming Southeast Asian metropolis with 300 meters below him. A man stripped to the jail free. Our river had been in the works for a long time, but the coronavirus threatened his plans. Infection rates in thailand was still low at the beginning of march. But fears of a pandemic which he railed. Thailands go to institute was intending to celebrate its 60th anniversary with a Large Programme of events. When a man decided to go ahead with the visit, the director of the institute in bangkok, priest a huge sigh of relief, that the president is good. Its just that it was both overwhelming and inspiring that the president of the good institution, lemon and his wife, lisa, came to bangkok to celebrate with us in these really difficult times of the coronavirus. When you were 80 years old and say, your so important to me that im going to come, even though many people wont be travelling right now, the message, but it sends an incredible message to stop. I could tell how much it meant to our people. And what an incredible motion vaishnav was for us to keep going Railway Station could almost be a piece of europe in central bangkok. The citys transportation hub for over a century. It was modeled on frankfurts train station and this is a really emotional discovery. I basically began my career in frankfurt and i come here to bangkok and what do i see . Its a little smaller, but it has the architecture and the atmosphere of frankfurt central station. This is a strange feeling. Just like at the beginning here i am in my final year working for the go to institute. And here is frankfurt train station again. This time in bangkok, its very emotional. But the historic waiting room was turned into a pop up concert hall. The institute had invited Young Musicians from bangkok and cologne to perform pieces by you had sebastian bass and junk age, amongst other composers. It was an unusual experience for the commute, his early man, stoked up the atmosphere, making a journey like this under such troubling conditions wasnt merely a gut decision. It was the results of sober consideration. Is good. As president of the curator institute, there are some advance that one has to be aware of. The 60th anniversary of the Bangkok Institute is one of them. Its now one of the largest go to institutes in the world. And understandably expectations are placed on me. So i mean, so i wanted to be there in person and it also answers those asking how im dealing with the situation. I only let myself be affected when there are clear facts. Supposition alone isnt enough for me. At the evening of the partnership between the Data Institute and the u. Songs from the princess and the academy of music was made official because beethovens 250th anniversary was coming out. Bangkoks Classical Music lovers, and their jamming got to hear the composers 7th symphony. Thank you. Thank you, this is still the tease shows how important the dirty institute has become to cultural life in the time capital. The organization is keen to make its presence in asia felt, especially at such a critical time. The audience didnt suspects that this could be one of the last parties in bangkok for a long while. When lehman travels his one, a fleece usually goes with him on officially and at the couples own expense. Shes his most important confidante, whether at home or abroad. It helps if its how the skidmore owings. I spend a lot of time with my husband. We get going at 7 in the morning. We have evenings together every evening we spend an hour having dinner. We talk about everything, but he listens to me and of course i hear about the fascinating things hes doing and everything going on in the background. The information goes both ways. Its absolutely absolutely leisurely man remains in the background and yet she still very presence. The 2 message university, she was the 1st woman to study geo physics in mind, half a century ago. Thank you, steve. So im we have a consistent dynamic that im very satisfied and happy with. Shes my wife, which is wonderful. We have our golden wedding anniversary and Everything Else behind us. And this stability is really important to me finish rich to get otherwise. I couldnt do all the things i do. Thats wasnt so i was tired. 2 of us are like a Small Company like this, and climbs on the name less than 3 weeks later. As covert 19 infections started to saw thailand declared a National State of emergency. Bangkok went into lockdown and the dirty institute there was closed to the public. The same happened with the 1 157. 00 of the institute says around the world. The coronavirus brought the whole good to institute to a standstill, but also meant that the organizations most important income source language courses, began to dry up almost 40 percent of its 440000000 euros budget was in jeopardy in germany, the president and board of directors had to fight the good to institutes very few here at some point now were facing an existential threat because of finances. Were in constant talks with lawmakers of ministers and with the foreign ministry, and thats helping a lot. One positive thing in this crisis is that i am still here that im Still Available this year because i have a lot of connections and a lot of experience that i can put to use now. It would have been awful to have to watch all this unfold. As a spectator, the government didnt want geminis most important projection of soft power to go bankrupt and reacted quickly. Allocating the good to institute up to 70000000 euros in emergency aid. A sign of how much politicians valued the institutes Global Cultural network and its outgoing president has ended it. I believe its symbolic that the end of the lehmann era coincides with germanys presidency of the council of the european union. And thats, you know, he has shaped interNational Cultural relations in europe either by building them up or by developing what it already exists. That will be the legacy of his era. And were extremely grateful for that. Its become an integral part of our european policy. Another legacy will be his tireless commitment and firmness, even in the face of difficulties that hasnt only helps interNational Cultural relations. Its also helped the institute sites around the world are adapting to the new normal. Whats new on the possible m. Person happens online language courses, cultural events, and an entire summit on colonialism that its on an operation would redo the f. M. And Radio Network for a man in berlin. Spring and summer came and went lame mans last few months in office. When necessarily restricted, a parent says and trips were cancels replaced by video conference. As in late summer 2020, lehmann returned to Berlins Museum island, which he played such a decisive role in shaping around the turn of the millennium. It brought old a new berlin together as the capital became a truly global city. Since 2019 visitors have entered the hugely Important Museum complex through a new portal. The james cmon gallery, a modernist building, designed by renowned tact david chipper, failed when lehmann was president of the pression Cultural Heritage foundation. It was a highly controversial project. Today its a widely celebrated as james, similar to james cmon gallery, binds the buildings together so to speak. And its clearly accepted by preliminary oxer. Its a welcoming place. This is one that you enjoy going to one that creates a connection. Its wonderful. Its a funny thing is that berliners thought of this area as a kind of temple that should never be changed. That was nonsense because shingle had already had a 6 building where we just did what was already there in the 19th century. But using our own modern materials, which is modern, but referencing the Old Buildings suitable for the modern columns are an echo of 19th century designs by press an architects college free trade and free trade next door in the noise museum or new museum. The old and new blend together without compromising the structures recognizable form. The modern whole and staircase are a reminder of the task that confronted lehmann at the end of the 1990 s. The grand ensemble of 5 museums was a unesco World Heritage site. But it was also in dire need of renovation. Modernization reorganization, and renewal for years Museum Island was a Major Construction site with laman playing the role of cultural supervisor, annoyances to 99. We adopted the master plan for Museum Island, which was approved by all Museum Directors and is still in effect today. That means this has my handwriting on it. I think what i do is to get everyone in the same boat. So we could complete the work of annoyance museum, the boat, a museum, and the arts are not so in our gallery on time. And within budget. On the noise museum was that the center of the renovation project partially destroyed during the 2nd world war. It was painstakingly reconstructed by an architect, David Chipperfield showpieces, the socalled nubian room decorated with motifs romantic received by free trish outkast architects to the pression king in the mid 19th century. When lehmann was trying to get someone to support his plans, he used to bring them here. This is a window. Its a beautiful room. The proportions are good. You have the presence of ancient greece, the terra cotta the great thinkers. But its also a mysterious for a magical place. And i shamelessly use that magic to make the positive transformation of Museum Island happen, including when it came to funding. But still it basically helped us there were basically then head of public museums was always a layman sides for a decade to, to Work Together to implement them master plan. He was a brilliant strategist. He never stopped giving politicians tours of Museum Island because hes a great motivator. Hes what you call a cultural diplomat. And he was a genius. When it came to committee, she would walk into a meeting and by the end, everyone agreed with them. She did a wonderful job or as he was sophisticated and efficiently go, or it laymans time at the head of germanys largest cultural institution. The pression, Cultural Heritage foundation was the resoundingly success. The foundation is responsible for managing millions of objects. Unique Collections Archives research institute, underlined brings its most famous artifacts, is a 3000 year old bust. If the ancient egyptian queen even now more than a decade after he worked on Museum Island is still drawn to it. He calls it his concubine. Call you come here from the newbie and for all of the beauty of that big space. And you come into, a room that belongs only to now for t. T. , with that beautiful green color reminiscent of the nile. And which is reflected in the headdress on this island of world cultures, perhaps the site of his most significant professional accomplishments. Klaus detail a man is in his own way. Now the curtain is coming down on a career that chapter by chapter is closely linked to the history of postwar, germany. It wasnt just that he senses what was the right thing at the right time to time it so also since that he was the right person for the moment, it will be for decades. Klaus detail, a man with the right person, a man who crossed borders. The most at home in the world of culture, be it in germany or elsewhere. Others have now taken up his banner. For example, with the home boat forum and interNational Cultural center and museum housed in the reconstructed palace. Is this cultural diplomat the last of his kind . I wouldnt see myself as a dinosaur thats dying out. I hope this type of person doesnt die out. Well always need people who want to connect. I think therell be more and more of this type of person who can motivate others and who has a sense of team spirit. I dont think ill be the last of my car. I quite the opposite. And if i can be an example, then let it be that we can achieve a lot by interacting with others. A family she learned the ropes. And in manchester, she became a champion. Now back in the bundesliga leroys sunday, offensive all rounder from bayoumi. We told the story of his new york rock chick ox team in d w. The power of sports where i come from. I never saw the sun where it did. Heavy going up in brazil in the sun was always a man, since the portuguese word for sun is masculine. And when i moved to germany as a 10 year old, i wanted to cut to one t. V. That would change how i see the world. Because in germany, the sun was feminine seeming now but the side of a good listener. So i read the party tape instead of a deep voice. Extroverted guy seemed absolutely incredible. I realized how language shapes the thinking. How definitions are not only mental in may just put our whole perception of the role inside, save my life and was one of the reasons i became a journalist. Im a storyteller, and i use my words to help with intercultural understanding. My name is the limit and i work at it obviously the more the big personal or isnt love the angles fall lol lol. To use a low moon theres no use no love for them which gives me the cant sleep. This is the news live from German Police . My house cracked the case of a 1000000000 dollar price a massive Early Morning operation. Slags 3 suspects in the green folds, robbery case of such a song for the precious gems stolen from the Dresden Museum last year. Also coming up for people made on us president elect