ExTempore

Ursel Schlicht initiated Ex Tempore as an attempt to find a meaningful artistic response to the backlash in the political and cultural climate since September 2001. In the current no less polarized and aggressive cultural-political climate, Ex Tempore functions a microcosm where a critical exchange can take place musically. The power of music as a means of communication and open-mindedness towards otherness, different cultural, political, philosophical, religious-spiritual points of view is brought into focus. Commissioned by the city of Kassel, Ex Tempore was to take place simultaneously with the Documenta 11 in September 2002. This largest avant garde event worldwide in the visual arts focused on a global dialogue of artists, scholars and philosophers from all continents, and was inspired by this vision. Eight musicians from Afghanistan, Eritrea, India, Germany and the US came together for a seven-day collaboration. Each day, the musicians worked on each otherss music and presented a concert each evening.