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April 24 to 26, 2026: Events, festivals, exhibitions and more things to do for your perfect weekend in Berlin. more
Feliciano Lana. The Story of White People
Feliciano Lana – Feliciano Lana
© Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss / © Feliciano Lana / Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / digitale Reproduktion: Thiago da Costa Oliveira & Claudio Aparecido Tavares
The watercolours by the indigenous artist Feliciano Lana from Brazil, who died in 2020, deal with the history of contact between indigenous people and whites on the Upper Rio Negro. Lana tells a local version of global history in his depictions and provides new, sometimes very personal perspectives on the advance of colonialism and capitalism.
The drawings show, among other things, the origin of the whites, their expulsion for inappropriate behaviour during a ritual and their return as soldiers, explorers, colonial and state administrators.the exhibition focuses on the works and the artist's perspective (including a video interview). Together with these, some works by younger contemporary Indigenous artists from Brazil will be shown, as well as a video installation with Indigenous contemporary witnesses who refer to the stories told by Lana.
Feliciano Lana, whose indigenous name was Sibé, was born in 1937 in São João Batista, a small community on the Tiquié River in north-east Brazil, where Lana's father was Desana and his mother belonged to the Tukano language group. At the age of four, in 1941, he was taken to a Salesian boarding school to be educated away from his community in the spirit of the whites. Here, Lana learnt to read and write Portuguese and was taught maths, physics and geometric drawing. his time at the boarding school also marked the beginning of Lana's relationship with the non-indigenous world, which was to shape much of the rest of his life. after leaving school, Lana lived in Colombia for several years. After returning to his homeland, he worked as a plantation labourer, bricklayer's assistant, tractor driver, telegraph operator, bricklayer and miner.Feliciano Lana is considered by the Western world to be one of the first indigenous artists from the Amazon region.His work began in the early 1970s when he was invited by Lithuanian-born Father Casimiro Bécksta to record the indigenous culture of the region. Lana was originally supposed to take photographs and make audio recordings, but then decided to capture his knowledge in painted pictures. Little by little, he became an expert in visualising the traditions and mythical universe of the region.
In May 2020, Feliciano Lana Sibé died at his home in the municipality of São Francisco as a result of a COVID-19 infection.
A temporary exhibition by the Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss in collaboration with the Ethnologische Museum der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz.
- Ages 9 and up
- Languages: German/English
- 3rd floor, Room, access via the entrance to the Museum of Asian Art
Stay up to date! Don’t want to miss anything? We would be happy to send you information about our exhibitions, events, workshops, guided tours and our entire program. By registering, you will receive our newsletter and notifications according to your interests entered below.
The drawings show, among other things, the origin of the whites, their expulsion for inappropriate behaviour during a ritual and their return as soldiers, explorers, colonial and state administrators.the exhibition focuses on the works and the artist's perspective (including a video interview). Together with these, some works by younger contemporary Indigenous artists from Brazil will be shown, as well as a video installation with Indigenous contemporary witnesses who refer to the stories told by Lana.
Feliciano Lana, whose indigenous name was Sibé, was born in 1937 in São João Batista, a small community on the Tiquié River in north-east Brazil, where Lana's father was Desana and his mother belonged to the Tukano language group. At the age of four, in 1941, he was taken to a Salesian boarding school to be educated away from his community in the spirit of the whites. Here, Lana learnt to read and write Portuguese and was taught maths, physics and geometric drawing. his time at the boarding school also marked the beginning of Lana's relationship with the non-indigenous world, which was to shape much of the rest of his life. after leaving school, Lana lived in Colombia for several years. After returning to his homeland, he worked as a plantation labourer, bricklayer's assistant, tractor driver, telegraph operator, bricklayer and miner.Feliciano Lana is considered by the Western world to be one of the first indigenous artists from the Amazon region.His work began in the early 1970s when he was invited by Lithuanian-born Father Casimiro Bécksta to record the indigenous culture of the region. Lana was originally supposed to take photographs and make audio recordings, but then decided to capture his knowledge in painted pictures. Little by little, he became an expert in visualising the traditions and mythical universe of the region.
In May 2020, Feliciano Lana Sibé died at his home in the municipality of São Francisco as a result of a COVID-19 infection.
A temporary exhibition by the Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss in collaboration with the Ethnologische Museum der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz.
- Ages 9 and up
- Languages: German/English
- 3rd floor, Room, access via the entrance to the Museum of Asian Art
Stay up to date! Don’t want to miss anything? We would be happy to send you information about our exhibitions, events, workshops, guided tours and our entire program. By registering, you will receive our newsletter and notifications according to your interests entered below.
Runtime: Sat, 24/05/2025 to Mon, 01/06/2026
Price info: Since October 3, 2025, the Humboldt Forum has had a new pricing model:
With just one ticket, you will have access to the permanent exhibitions and temporary presentations – and you can choose between a one-day, two-day or group ticket for maximum flexibility. All of these ticket options allow you to visit the collections of the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art, BERLIN GLOBAL, as well as other temporary exhibitions. The ticket is also valid for the special exhibition Family Matters (from 3 October) with interventions throughout the building and in the Knoblauchhaus Museum in the Nikolaiviertel.
Many areas and programmes are still accessible to you free of charge – including the Humboldt Laboratory with the new exhibition On Water. Water Knowledge in Berlin (from 10 October), the stairwell with Impressions. The Humboldt Brothers, the castle cellar, the sculpture hall, the video panorama and the presentation Traces. You can also attend numerous events and educational programmes without paying admission.
Price: €14.00
Reduced price: €7.00
Reduced price info: Admission remains free of charge for children and young people up to the age of 19, persons accompanying a severely disabled person (provided this is noted as B on the severely disabled person’s pass), persons receiving transfer payments and Berlin-Ticket-S-holders. Admission is also free of charge for Members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the German Museums Association and the Federal Association for Museum Education.
With just one ticket, you will have access to the permanent exhibitions and temporary presentations – and you can choose between a one-day, two-day or group ticket for maximum flexibility. All of these ticket options allow you to visit the collections of the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art, BERLIN GLOBAL, as well as other temporary exhibitions. The ticket is also valid for the special exhibition Family Matters (from 3 October) with interventions throughout the building and in the Knoblauchhaus Museum in the Nikolaiviertel.
Many areas and programmes are still accessible to you free of charge – including the Humboldt Laboratory with the new exhibition On Water. Water Knowledge in Berlin (from 10 October), the stairwell with Impressions. The Humboldt Brothers, the castle cellar, the sculpture hall, the video panorama and the presentation Traces. You can also attend numerous events and educational programmes without paying admission.
Price: €14.00
Reduced price: €7.00
Reduced price info: Admission remains free of charge for children and young people up to the age of 19, persons accompanying a severely disabled person (provided this is noted as B on the severely disabled person’s pass), persons receiving transfer payments and Berlin-Ticket-S-holders. Admission is also free of charge for Members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the German Museums Association and the Federal Association for Museum Education.
Takes place here:
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