Chronology
October 23, 2025
Places TO THE PEOPLE – Places of Democracy : Gera in Thuringia is the first stop on a traveling exhibition through the regions of Germany, accompanied by a diverse program developed in cooperation with local people and institutions. This traveling format takes up the central idea of the artwork – to make the connections between parliament and constituencies tangible – and reflects it back into the political life of the regions. In the coming years, Places TO THE PEOPLE (Orte DER BEVÖLKERUNG) will be shown in all federal states and in as many constituencies as possible. Join us!
September 12, 2025.
Exactly on the 25th anniversary of TO THE POPULATION, 27 members of the German Bundestag from the Green Party, the CDU/CSU, The Left Party, and the SPD participated, contributing fresh soil from their constituencies. The entirely informal day of action was characterized by short, spontaneous speeches and numerous conversations with visitors. Unlike 25 years ago, the focus was not on controversy, but on what unites and unites – the commitment to diversity as the foundation of democratic cohesion. By the end of this special day, the first 25 years of THE POPULATION had brought together a total of 525 soil contributions from all regions of the country. 34 members of the German Bundestag have already participated in this living artwork multiple times with their constituencies.
July 25 – September 28, 2025:
Anniversary exhibition 25 Years TO THE POPULATION at the Forum Kunst im Bundestag in the Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus. A contribution of the Werkstatt DER BEVÖLKERUNG , a civil society initiative for the interdisciplinary support and communication of the project.
September 10, 2020 – January 15, 2021
Under the title 20 Years TO THE POPULATION in the German Bundestag, an exhibition at the Neuer Berliner Kunstverein (nbk), curated by Oliver Schwarz, illuminates the first 20 years of participation and reception against the background of the controversial origin of the project.
On September 12, 2000,
Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse inaugurated the art project with two sacks of soil from the Jewish cemetery in his Berlin constituency of Prenzlauer Berg . From this day forward, all current and future members of the German Bundestag were invited to contribute approximately 50 kg of soil from their constituencies to the project, TO THE POPULATION, during their term of office.
February 17, 2000.
The vocal and persistent opposition of Volker Kauder, the only dissenting vote on the Arts Advisory Board, led to a joint motion by 178 members of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Their aim was to overturn the Arts Advisory Board’s decision through a parliamentary vote.
April 5, 2000.
On the agenda of the Bundestag: Debate and vote on the group motion “Printed Matter 14/26) TO THE POPULATION will not be implemented.” The debate and vote resulted in the rejection of the project opponents’ motion by only two votes: 258 votes in favor, 260 against, with 31 abstentions.
January 25, 2000.
Due to public debate about Haacke’s proposal, the project is placed back on the agenda for a vote, following a recommendation from the Council of Elders. The Arts Advisory Board reaffirms its support for the project by a large majority.
On November 2, 1999,
the concept and design model for TO THE POPULATION was presented for the first time to the relevant committee of the Bundestag, the Arts Advisory Board. The board approved the realization of the art project with nine votes in favor and one against.
June 3, 1999:
Signing of the contract between the project partners Hans Haacke & Oliver Schwarz with the Federal Construction Company on behalf of the German Bundestag.
June 22, 1998:
Hans Haacke accepts the invitation. Concept development begins.
On May 17, 1998,
Hans Haacke was invited by the German Bundestag to develop a concept for the artistic design of the northern atrium as part of the “Art in Architecture” projects for the Reichstag building.
