Manifesto of Spring

The Asian countries which came to democracy not so long ago, through social and political upheavals, are now facing a new era. But they are not the only ones. The entire world seems to be in turmoil: (Western) democracies are faltering, fascism is emerging with alarming strength, brutal wars are sweeping the world, the global economy is characterized by unleashed trade wars that are making the poor ever poorer, and the catastrophic effects of the climate crisis are unstoppable. In such a time of multiple crises, it seems hard to hold on to hope. Spring, a symbol of democratic awakening in modern Asian history, does not seem to be returning.

And yet, as Jason W. Moore points out, when even the idea of the Anthropocene is captured and misused by capitalist forces, it is now more important than ever to adhere to a genuine participatory democratization, and to reimagining our relationship to our planet. This means radically questioning all established structures, from political and economic systems, science to technology and economic investment, so that they can be socialized in the maximum interest of the complete web of life, instead of just helping a small elite to even more wealth.

After kicking off the project with a two-day conference in October 2024, the National Asian Culture Center (ACC) is now not only celebrating its 10th anniversary with the exhibition Manifesto of Spring, but is also taking on the task of reflecting on possible future democracies. The group exhibition, curated together with M+ (Hong Kong) and the ZKM | Karlsruhe, is dedicated to issues surrounding the effects of capitalism, globalization, colonialism and the climate crisis. On the basis of the artistic positions presented, which also include thirteen new works commissioned for this occasion, the show ventures thought experiments that focus on all living beings and their interconnections with the natural and social environment. An attempt to collectively weave the web of life further. Manifesto of Spring thus imagines a pluralistic manifesto for the future – for the spring, which has perhaps never been truly lost after all.