Museum für Völkerkunde zu Leipzig: Bonvenon

Bonvenon – Welcome to our game room

Bonvenon means "welcome" in Esperanto. Theoretically, people worldwide could communicate with each other through Esperanto. It is an idea that we find very appropriate for an ethnological museum. At the same time, we are aware that European languages mainly influenced Esperanto.

Exhibition Site GRASSI Museum Leipzig

Opening Hours daily 10—18, Monday closed 01/01/2025 10—18 (New Year)
24/12/2024 — 24/12/2024 closed 31/12/2024 — 31/12/2024 closed
Silvester

Admission Fees admission free

This brings us to our museum's core issue: How do we look at the world? What language do we use to describe it? What are the pitfalls of a universalistic claim? For us, Esperanto symbolizes playing with language: that new rules are negotiated together, which can or cannot work.

In this room, we collectively play with these possibilities for you and all of us, resulting in a "Third Space" of encounter and exchange: Feel free to sit in the living room and choose a game. Or immerse yourself in exciting stories with our books. You can also listen to music, watch films or participate in discussions with us at the events that occur here. You can also work on realizing your ideas in the studio. Or have a seat in the "Weißes Roß" (White Horse), a former Leipzig pub that we have rebuilt in the museum. Come in! Bonvenon! It's nice to have you here!

Our theme for the year: Staying with the trouble

"Staying with the trouble" is our theme for 2023, inspired by the book by US feminist thinker Donna Haraway.

In her book, Haraway explores categories and attributions. She radically rethinks boundaries between ourselves and our environment. Her central question is how we deal with the challenges of our time, which, as Haraway writes, is best done collectively and in unfamiliar relationships.

We, too, remain restless. Together with the international women's collective "Frauen in Arbeit" (Women in Action), we seek solutions to environmental and social challenges. Questions about a sustainable approach to clothing play a role in this. In addition, we would like to make a social contribution by making and donating clothes to regional institutions.

Living Room

Welcome to the living room. Here you can find games and books for all ages. On the tables, several larger games are set up for you. Did you know that the Indian game Pachisi is the predecessor of the popular Mensch ärgere dich nicht game or that chess originated in Iran? There are even more card and board games among the seating; the instructions for the games can be found on the wall shelf. In the small library, you can read books. There are plenty of books that show the diversity of our society. The perspective of BIPOC authors is important to us. BIPOC stands for "Black, Indigenous, and People of Color". You will find books to feel with your hands on the wall shelves. Some are in Braille for blind people. Make yourselves comfortable, read or play together!

Stage

Save the date! We have many events taking place. There are discussions, readings, poetry slams, film evenings, art and theatre performances, concerts and children's programs. At our events, our desire is for people to meet, enjoy pleasant moments together, and celebrate in high spirits. But we also want to talk about the topics of our exhibitions. In doing so, we welcome discussions and diverse perspectives. You can find information about our current events here on the board, in our program flyer, or on Instagram or Facebook.

Atelier

We are transforming ourselves into a network museum, which means we involve many partners in our work. The dialogue with local Leipzig residents is vital to us. Leipzig's creative diversity can be seen in the many open spaces, clubs and cultural venues. Various cultural, civic and politically engaged initiatives are based here. Develop your projects with us, and bring in your ideas. This is where you can find allies and exchange ideas with the museum. Every year there is a new theme. You can work here in the studio and network. Talk to us! Or leave a message on the bulletin board.

Menschen im Ausstellungsraum — **Besucher*innen im Bonvenon**

Weißes Roß

A pub in the museum? There are many inviting, sociable places in Leipzig. In recent years, numerous old pubs have had to close, including the Weißes Roß (White Horse) owned by Jens-Thomas Nagel. It was located near the museum. We have partially rebuilt the Weißes Roß, complete with its furniture and memories. In the pub, we tell stories: for example, about people playing the card game "Doppelkopf" or about the tables for regular guests that have existed since the GDR. We ask what coziness means to the people of Leipzig. Who feels welcome in a pub? Via the telephone, we connect with different pubs in the city at the bar.