Alexander-Ecker Collection in Freiburg: Understanding Science History Critically
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Scientific Collections in the Shadow of Colonialism and National Socialism
On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the Museum of Contemporary Art invites you to an enlightening lecture at the Documentation Center for National Socialism in Freiburg. The focus is on the former Alexander-Ecker Collection and thus a chapter of university science history, which is closely linked to colonial mindsets, racial theory, and the social responsibility of research.
Provenance Research as Critical Examination of Works
Dieter Speck, former head of the University Archive Freiburg, and Christoph Balzer, provenance researcher at the University of Freiburg, provide insights into the colonial scientific collections of the university. Their perspective combines historical research with a precise analysis of the paths, contexts, and shifts in meaning of scientific objects.
The event opens a deeper engagement with the question of how collections are created, what power relations are reflected in them, and how institutions today deal with problematic holdings. Provenance research becomes visible as an instrument of cultural education: it makes historical responsibility comprehensible and sharpens the awareness of the political conditions of scientific order systems.
Between Racial Theory and Institutional Responsibility
The lecture addresses the interconnection of colonialism and national socialism and examines how scientific terms, classifications, and collection practices contributed to the stabilization of racist worldviews. The Alexander-Ecker Collection exemplifies the necessity to read university archives and museum collections not only as sources but also as testimonies of their respective era.
The exhibition atmosphere of the Documentation Center for National Socialism supports this historical reflection. Instead of a purely distanced consideration, a concentrated artistic experience of thinking arises: materials, documents, and institutional spaces become starting points for an aesthetic experience in which memory, responsibility, and contemporary relevance intertwine.
Connection to the Exhibition Marcel van Eeden. August 6, 1870
Another focus lies on the links to the exhibition Marcel van Eeden. August 6, 1870 in the House of Graphic Collection of the Augustinermuseum. The lecture expands upon the discourse initiated there regarding colonial history with questions of science history and collection policy.
Thus, the event connects art historical classification, historical research, and museum curation. It demonstrates how contemporary art, archival work, and critical museum work together open new access to repressed or long-unquestioned histories.
An Evening for Historical Insight and Cultural Responsibility
The audience can expect not a casual supporting program but a concentrated examination of works at the intersections of science history, museum practice, and memory culture. The lecture invites participants to critically question the origins of collections and to rethink the responsibilities of cultural institutions in the present.
Participation is free of charge; an event ticket is required. As the number of participants is limited, early securing of tickets is recommended. This artistic experience enriches the aesthetic experience with historical depth and opens important perspectives on colonialism, national socialism, and the responsibility of museums and universities.
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