Polina Stohnushko, Intervention DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR?, 2025, Berlin, Video: Ewan Waddell
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR?
On February 22, this intervention took place directly next to the Brandenburg Gate — one of Europe’s most politically and symbolically charged landmarks. Once a site of historical division, later a symbol of reunification, and now a stage for the struggles of our contemporary moment, it invited people to confront a fundamental question: DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR?
Timed with intention, the intervention took place one day before the regional elections in Germany and two days before the anniversary of the russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It aimed to speak to the local public at a critical political moment, grounding the question in both urgency and responsibility. The 22-meter-long banner, installed in direct view of oncoming traffic, forced confrontation, as cars and pedestrians stopped at the red light had no choice but to face the message. The question stood still as the city moved around it, disrupting the familiar flow of the space and calling for both attention and reflection
Although the question is rooted in the artist’s personal and political struggle, the message functions on a broader level. It invites each individual to reflect: what is worth fighting for? Whether personal or collective, intimate or political. In a time of growing polarization and the rise of authoritarian violence around the world, democratic values are increasingly under siege, and the unthinkable is becoming normalized. While it might be easier to turn away, this question forces us to look directly at the reality we are living through. Indifference is not an option — we all bear collective responsibility, and we must act. Democracy, freedom, and human dignity are not guaranteed; they must be defended
The making of the intervention echoed its message. It took months of negotiation - with ministries and police. On the day of the execution, harsh winds nearly tore the banner apart, and it was only through the collective effort of all participants, who stood together and held it in place, that the intervention remained. That moment became a symbol in itself: only together can we uphold what truly matters
During the intervention, pedestrians had the opportunity to engage in conversation, share their reflections, and become part of the work. Despite society’s fragmentation and segregation, these encounters revealed the fundamental values that continue to unite us: the pursuit of freedom, justice, and humanity. In a highly individualised and competitive world, where division often dominates the narrative, this intervention stood as a poignant and urgent reminder of interconnectedness: we share so much - and these shared values remain worth fighting for
The intervention DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR? also became the title and conceptual framework for the 100th anniversary exhibition of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. In addition to the documentation of the intervention, the exhibition also featured specially designed postcards that visitors could take with them. Referencing the aesthetics of classic touristic postcards depicting the Brandenburg Gate, these cards carried the question into pockets, private spaces, and minds - keeping alive a question that must be revisited long after the intervention has passed
filming: Ewan Waddell
behind-the-scenes interviews: Annina Lehmann
realized with the support of all participants who stood together: Veronika, Maria, Michael, Moritz, Emanuel, Alise, Mykhailo, Albert, Lubov, Ana, Julia, Nazar, François, Kate, Mārtiņš, Viktorija
Polina Stohnushko, Intervention DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR?, 2025, Berlin, Video: Annina Lehmann, Polina Stohnushko
Polina Stohnushko, Intervention DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR?, 2025, Berlin, Video: Annina Lehmann, Ewan Waddell
Polina Stohnushko, Intervention DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR?, 2025, Berlin, Video: Ewan Waddell
Polina Stohnushko, Intervention DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR?, 2025, Berlin, Video: Annina Lehmann, Ewan Waddell
Polina Stohnushko, Intervention DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR?, 2025, Berlin, Video: Annina Lehmann, Ewan Waddell
Polina Stohnushko, Intervention DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR?, 2025, Berlin, Video: Annina Lehmann, Ewan Waddell
Polina Stohnushko, Intervention DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR?, 2025, Berlin, Video: Annina Lehmann, Ewan Waddell
Polina Stohnushko, Intervention DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR?, 2025, Berlin, Video: Ewan Waddell
Exhibition DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR? 100 years of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2025, Berlin
Exhibition DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR? 100 years of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2025, Berlin
Polina Stohnushko, Intervention DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR?, 2025, Berlin, Video: Ewan Waddell