Since 2021, Peira has been cooperating with HAU to connect and the neighbourhood management at Mehringplatz. The focus is on the interests of local women and girls, as well as artistic practice as a tool for self-empowerment, image creation and change.
As part of Space for me (2021) and Space for us (2022), recreational and free spaces were tracked down through dialogue, excursions were undertaken and small spatial transformations were implemented. These ranged from gardening, a nail salon session and a boat trip together to the cake for everyone at the Kiezfest. The search for space for oneself and for relaxation was the focus, especially in times of lockdown. To let go, to celebrate oneself and to have time for oneself, is predominantly reserved for the more privileged classes. Between care work, cramped living conditions and difficult access to balance and rest, many girls and women from the Mehringplatz neighbourhood were increasingly exposed to double burdens during the pandemic. The search and actions were accompanied by the illustrator Elsa Klée. Her graphic snapshots resulted in the graphic novel "Room for Me", which summarizes stories from the process and portraits of the participants and their knowledge of space for themselves and recreation.

This was followed in 2023 with Space for____! the transfer of wishes and visions to an outer wall in the public space at Mehringplatz. For this purpose, Ahlam, Asmaa, Maysa, Rania, Neswa, Saba, Yamam, Peira and Klara Mohammadi have entered a room for a joint image production.

Together with invited artists (Mayada Alkayal, Ziad Sheno, Nancy Rohde), collage and printing techniques, calligraphy and graffiti were tested over several months. The result is a mural in one's own neighborhood, a polyphonic collage that goes beyond space assignments and attributions. The mural with the motto "doing it together" can be seen permanently in the Mehringplatz neighbourhood at Brandesstraße 1.

If you are interested in the graphic novel "Raum für mich", please contact us via info@peira.space 

Thanks to Gewobag and Merle Brüser.