When does the film screening take place?

The film screening with subsequent discussion takes place on November 26, 2026, from 19:00 to 20:30.

Where will the event take place?

The venue is the foyer of the Iwalewahaus at the University of Bayreuth, Wölfelstraße 2, 95444 Bayreuth.

In which language will the film be shown?

The documentary will be shown in English with German subtitles.

In which language will the discussion take place?

The subsequent discussion will take place in German. Questions in English are welcome.

Who will participate in the discussion?

Nadu Hormann and Prof. Dr. Natasha A. Kelly will participate in the discussion.

How long will the event last?

The program is scheduled from 19:00 to 20:30, lasting about 90 minutes.

Milli’s Awakening: An Moving Film Evening About Memory, Art, and Black Image History

Name: Film screening and discussion "Milli’s Awakening and the Return of Memory"
Start: 2026-11-26T19:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-26T20:30:00+01:00
Location: Iwalewahaus (Universität Bayreuth)

Memory as Resistance: Natasha A. Kelly's Film Essay at Iwalewahaus

On November 26, 2026, the Iwalewahaus of the University of Bayreuth invites you to a compelling combination of film screening and discussion. The documentary Milli’s Awakening and the Return of Memory, directed by Prof. Dr. Natasha A. Kelly in 2018, will be shown. The event offers a critical view of image history, memory, and the representation of Black women in art.

A Film Between Painting, History, and Memory

The starting point of the film is Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's painting Sleeping Milli from 1911. Natasha A. Kelly approaches this work using the means of documentary film and examines the long history of the representation, naming, and interpretation of Black women through the white male gaze. The cinematic work combines art historical analysis with biographical research and social reflection.

Artistic Examination with Political Dimension

The event delves into central questions of contemporary art education: Who is seen, who speaks, and who determines the meaning of an image? In the interplay of painting, film, and conversation, an artistic experience is created that questions viewing habits and makes cultural education an active engagement with history.

International Perspective and Joint Discussion

The film will be shown in English with German subtitles. Following the screening, Nadu Hormann and Natasha A. Kelly will discuss the cinematic work and its art historical and social references. The conversation will take place in German; questions in English are welcome. This creates an open atmosphere for differentiated artwork examination and intercultural exchange.

An Evening for Critical Aesthetic Experience

The exhibition atmosphere of the Iwalewahaus and the focused film situation create space for an aesthetic experience that goes beyond mere viewing. Memory does not appear as a completed past but as a vibrant cultural practice. The evening is aimed at art enthusiasts, students, and anyone interested in engaging with visual representation, Black history, and decolonial art education.

Conclusion: Film and Discussion as an Invitation to New Seeing

Milli’s Awakening and the Return of Memory promises an enlightening evening between documentary film, art history, and social debate. Those who wish to understand the impact of images and critically expand perspectives on Black women in art will find a special place for dialogue, reflection, and cultural enrichment at Iwalewahaus.