A Tous Les Clandestins @ HKW | Meriem S, Patricia Gomez & María Jesús González

At the heart of the current Forgive Us Our Trespasses exhibition at Berlin’s Haus Der Kulturen Der Welt, A Tous Les Clandestins by Patricia Gomez and María Jesús González stands as a powerful tribute to stories that might have otherwise disappeared. This ongoing project shines a light on the often-overlooked stories of migrants, particularly through their work in detention centers in Fuerteventura and Mauritania. Using their strappo technique, Patricia and María literally peel away layers of walls to uncover messages left behind by people trapped in the limbo of migration—signs of survival and solidarity.

During an interview with Meriem Sdiri, the artists explained that their work is not about creating art for art's sake, but rather an act of documentation, a "rescue" of the memories and struggles of individuals who passed through these hidden, temporary spaces.

"What we have done has been like a work of archaeology, of rescuing and documenting these places," Patricia notes. "We don't consider ourselves artists here, but documentarians of a problem that is all too often invisible."

Their interview was recorded at HKW in September, where their work will remain until December 8th. We explore their artistic process, the difficulties they faced in accessing these places, and how their work highlights the urgent and ongoing realities of migration—issues that remain just as important today. (This show has been re-recorded in English). All music is from Tropical Diaspora Records.