The workshop and exhibition Same Same But Different emerged as part of the Artist Training: Refugee Class for Professionals, an initiative at the Berlin Career College of the UdK Berlin. Designed for artists and cultural professionals with refugee backgrounds, the program provided guidance on navigating the European art market, understanding institutional frameworks, and developing professional networks. The exhibition is in the framework of TheIndex.Art (previously known as Syrian Cultural Index).
Led by Khaled Barakeh (coculture's director) and Wasim Ghrioui, both Syrian-born and established artists in Europe, the workshop focused on translating contemporary Western art systems into Middle Eastern contexts. Participants explored the differences in curatorial practices, exhibition concepts, and artistic discourse, reflecting on how to position their work in a new environment. Rather than simply integrating into the existing market, the program encouraged them to redefine their artistic practice while maintaining their unique perspectives.
Info
The exhibition Same Same But Different took place in 2017 at Room 110, Hardenbergstraße 33, Berlin, during the UdK Berlin’s open days. It featured works by Fadi Al-Jabour, Anas Al Raddawi, Aram AlSaed, Michael Daoud, Naser Fatih, Jihad Issa, Farah Khalifeh, Kenan Melhem, Kamal Sallat, Abdul Razzak Shaballout, Oula Soleman, and Lara Ziyad. The exhibition was curated by Khaled Barakeh and Wasim Ghrioui, in collaboration with Claudia Hummel from the Institute for Art in Context at the University of the Arts Berlin.
Lab Project
The Lab category features emerging project concepts exploring future artistic possibilities. These sketches represent coculture's exploratory spirit, highlighting innovative ideas awaiting development.
While realization isn't guaranteed, this space invites viewers to envision the potential of transformative art and cultural narratives.
Outcome
A key outcome of the workshop was a group exhibition, presented during the UdK open days. Same Same But Different was not just a showcase of individual works but a collective creative process, guiding participants through every stage from concept development to production and curation. For many, this was their first experience of collaborative exhibition-making, as such responsibilities were traditionally handled by galleries in their home countries. The exhibition emphasized site-specific and contextualized presentations rather than conventional displays, fostering a dialogue on identity, migration, and the challenges of moving beyond the “refugee” label.
Rather than seeking assimilation into the European art world, the project focused on empowerment through knowledge-sharing and network-building. The exhibition featured works by artists from diverse backgrounds, each bringing their own artistic language and experiences. Same Same But Different was a testament to the resilience and adaptability of displaced artists, highlighting their creative agency beyond their status as newcomers.
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