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It has been exactly one year since we, as Divided Studios, took over the space and programme at Hamlet. At that time, Hamlet had been existing for almost six years and had a long history with numerous exhibitions and events, a loyal audience and a steadily growing inventory – valuable resources that were thus passed on to a new team for the second time. One year ago, however, we also took on shared responsibility for an ongoing project that was shaped by established power relations and an organizational structure that had begun to crumble before we could even start with our work.

This exhibition is built around two letters. The second remains unanswered. What remains invisible in the exhibition are months of uncertainty, during which our attempts to engage in dialogue were ignored or put off with empty promises, while our financial situation at the time didn’t even allow us to cover the costs of the current exhibition. Reasons that led us to start writing letters.

The problems we were facing were not new – neither for Hamlet, nor for the art scene, nor for the cultural sector – as capitalist and corrupt mechanisms spread through all areas of our society. Through an encounter in May this year, we were also reminded of the structural nature of such problems. We met Erell in a restaurant in Basel. At the time, she was co-curating an off-space in Geneva and she had gone through experiences that showed almost uncanny parallels with our story.

Hardly any of these stories go public. They do not fit into the small art scene, which relies on the intertwining of personal and professional contacts. Oftentimes, efforts to resolve the problem internally remain unsuccessful, leaving at best a few half-truths circulating as rumors. And so, things continue on as before.

The continuation of this space and its exhibition programme is only possible thanks to the great support of a few individuals, the solidarity of our community and some lucky coincidences – but not without tiny but visible traces: Hamlet became Halmet.

This is no ordinary exhibition. It is more of a moment of coming together, a grand opening of an off-space that has actually been in existence for seven years. It is a personal exhibition closing the chapter of Hamlet on Dörflistrasse while simultaneously opening a new one. It is also an exhibition dedicated to projects that, unlike this one, were not fortunate enough to continue and are forgotten before anyone has the chance to ask why.

The Geneva off-space had to close its doors. We invited their former curators, Erell Le Pape and Mina Achermann, to write a text.

Introduction by Divided Studios

Halmet wäre nicht zustande gekommen ohne die grosse mentale und beratende Unterstützung von: Paul Rechsteiner, David Bircher, Tania Stöcklin, Julia Hegi und Antonia Truninger and all unseren Freund:innen.

Drama Kings ist eine Ausstellung von Divided Studios.

Mit freundlicher Unterstützung von: Stadt Zürich Kultur und Fachstelle Kultur Kanton Zürich

Fotos von Etienne Eisele