Gerz, Jochen; Shalev-Gerz, Esther
«The Berlin Investigation»

With its diversely interwoven public forms, both local (the theatre, in this case) and in the media, 'The Berlin Investigation' is unique in contemporary German art. Basing their piece on the original text of 'The Investigation – an Oratorio in Eleven Songs' by Peter Weiss, which was first performed in 17 cities simultaneously in 1965 and dealt with the Auschwitz trial held in Frankfurt/M. from 1963 to 1965, Jochen and Esther Gerz operate with an extended concept of stage and action. The arena is not simply the theatre itself, but includes strategies such as finding performers through a series of advertisements. In co-operation with Sender Freies Berlin (SFB) radio, the editorial staff of ZDF television's 'Aspekte' programme and the Berlin newspaper 'Der Tagesspiegel', excerpts from the piece chosen by the readers were broadcast or, as applicable, printed in advance, together with the name of the performer. During the 'performances' at the three participating theatres, Gerz' installation 'EXIT/The Dachau Project' (1972) functioned as an unchanging frame of reference indicating different ways in which Germany copes with its Fascist legacy. The first performance of the work-in-progress was broadcast live by Deutschland-Radio.

Rudolf Frieling