Things We Keep

Exhibition at the GHI London, 9 September – November 2015

“Why do expatriates keep certain objects while leaving others behind in the process of moving from their home country to London?” We all keep certain things for no apparent reason, some are used on a daily basis, some stashed away in a box or adorning a windowsill. But why do we hold on to them? Things We Keep is a project by a team of researchers at King’s College London and the German Historical Institute London in collaboration with members of the German expatriate community and the artist Rolf Sachs. It curates objects that were kept when people moved from Germany to London. The objects and their stories will be on display at the German Historical Institute London in the weeks before and after the anniversary of German unity on 3 October 2015.