The exhibition "Connecting Roots: Collective Stories, Individual Identities" at the ifa Gallery in Stuttgart celebrates international civil society networks and global perspectives on remembrance. For 20 years, the ifa – Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations has been sustainably strengthening civil society networks between Germany and the world through its CrossCulture program. Over 1,100 alumni from all over the world are united by their commitment to positive change. The multifaceted exhibition "Connecting Roots: Collective Stories, Individual Identities" at the ifa Gallery in Stuttgart, starting July 31, 2025, celebrates two decades of exchange with fellows, artists, and partner organizations worldwide and explores global perspectives on remembrance.

In "Connecting Roots: Collective Stories, Individual Identities," 14 international artists, selected by Elham Khattab and Omar Chennafi, present works and contributions that revolve around the themes of memory and identity, collective healing, the environment, and future-oriented remembering: How can we, as individuals with our respective roots, become a community that celebrates differences? How can we use memory on the path to a more inclusive future?

CHAOS, photograph, Sameh Al Tawil, Dreieich, Germany. © Sameh Al Tawil, 2019

The artists from ten countries, including Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Morocco, and Tunisia, address these themes through photographs, installations, video, sound, performances, and workshops. The exhibition presents art as a language for transcultural dialogue—connecting personal roots with collective memory.
Dancer Said Al Haddaji invites visitors not only to be spectators of his performance, but also to explore memory physically in a workshop. Another highlight is Yara Mekawei's Stuttgart 21: A Sonic Manifesto. The artist transforms the city's soundscape into participatory sound walks. In September, Jorge Ernesto Barrón's documentary play NULO tells the story of Bolivia's political history through family experiences in exile. Other interactive formats include Zahra Amber's textile workshop The Tapestry of Becoming and the culinary storytelling project Roots Kitchen.
The opening and closing weekends (July 31 to August 3 and September 19 to 21, 2025) will also feature talks, workshops, performances, and guided tours. The events will take place at the ifa Gallery Stuttgart and at municipal cultural institutions, as well as in the Stuttgart urban area.
With contributions from Aneek Mustafa Anwar, Farah Khelil, Izz Aljabari, Jorge Ernesto Barrón, M'hammed Killito, Mohamed Thara, Monon Muntaka, Qafar Rzayev, Said Al Haddaji, Sameh Al Tawil, Souad Mani, Yara Mekawei, Yassine Alaoui aka Yoriyas, Zahra Amber.
Opening: July 31, 2025, 7 to 9 p.m.
August 1 to September 21, 2025. The exhibition and all events are free of charge.
www.ifa.de