Harlem Renaissance

To mark the exhibition The Heart of the Matter, actor Langston Uibel is collaborating with director Sarah Elisabeth Braun to develop the performative intervention Harlem Renaissance which will take place over three evenings in November. Drawing on texts by Toni Morrison, Langston Hughes, and other key voices of the Harlem Renaissance, the intervention explores questions of Black identity and belonging in Germany. Inspired by Harlem in Vogue and The Sweet Flypaper of Life by Langston Hughes and Roy DeCarava—key points of reference for several series of works by Carrie Mae Weems—the intervention brings literature and music into dialogue with the exhibited photographs by the US-American artist. The creative process is brought to life for the audience through a staged rehearsal accompanied by string instruments.
 

Langston Uibel (b. 1998 in London, UK) is a British-German actor. He rose to fame through Netflix productions such as Dogs of Berlin, How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast), and Unorthodox. In 2023, he played one of the lead roles in Roter Himmel by Christian Petzold, which premiered in the competition section of the 73rd Berlinale and won the Silver Bear – Grand Jury Prize. He made his theater debut in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Burgtheater in Vienna. His upcoming film projects include Bibi Blocksberg, Sentimental Fail Club, Hyper Baby, and Britta Schlag. He is also joining the ensemble at the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus, where he will appear in select productions. He is currently rehearsing for The Seagull, directed by Barbara Frey.

Sarah Elisabeth Braun (b. 1997, Filderstadt) is an Afro-German artist. She is studying theater directing at the HfS Ernst Busch and is a scholarship recipient of the German National Academic Foundation. Her writings have been published in books such as Systemkritik! and Sisters and Souls 2, among others. In both artistic and political contexts, her work focuses on making migrant, anti-fascist, and Black perspectives visible and empowering them. In 2025, her directorial work Ein Widerspruch was invited to the Plug&Play Festival.
 

Produced by Coldharbour Lane
Director: Sarah Elisabeth Braun
Dramaturgy: Helen Waeder
Production: Pele Uibel
Production Design: Asta Hansen
Video: Itohan Emonvomwa
Violin: Sofie Royer
Violin: Neneh Sowe