Romana Schmalisch & Robert Schlicht

Romana Schmalisch studied fine arts at the Berlin University of the Arts. She was an artist-in-residence at many institutions including the Jan Van Eyck Academy in Maastricht, Studio Voltaire in London and Les Laboratoires d’Aubervilliers. Robert Schlicht studied philosophy at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Together, Schmalisch and Schlicht work at the interface of film and theory to grapple with how historical processes and societal structures can be reproduced in film. The themes of labor in capitalist societies are a focal point in their exhibitions, performance series and films. Their research has taken them inside places like employment agencies and training centers. Their works include the 2013-2014 screening and performance series The Choreography of Labour at Les Laboratoires d’Aubervilliers, the play All the best from Labour Power Plant at La Commune – Centre Dramatique National in Aubervilliers in 2017 and the exhibition Titre de travail at FRAC Grand Large–Hauts-de-France in Dunkerque in 2018. In 2019, their full-length feature film Labour Power Plant will be released.