Review 2010: EMSCHERKUNST.2010 – change through culture along the river

The art project »EMSCHERKUNST.2010« was the biggest project of the European Capital of Culture Ruhr.2010. More than 40 international artists created 20 works on the Emscher Island along the river, under the flag of the theme: »Change through culture – culture through change«.

Filmmaker Saschko Frey has followed the EMSCHERKUNST.2010 project with his camera since 2008, delivering an intense impression of the artists, their ideas and selected locations along the Emscher.

This review gives a short summary of the diverse endeavours displayed in this unique art project featured by 2010LAB.tv this year.

The uniqueness of the Emscher

 

In December 2008, Florian Matzner, curator of EMSCHERKUNST.2010, explains his visions of this project. Meanwhile, the invited international artists have been followed with a camera during their inspection walks and talks (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4) – resulting in an interesting look behind the scenes.

The Emscher with all its historical and geographical uniqueness could be considered as a symbol of the northern Ruhr area. The Bridge cross Oberhausen or Wild island Gelsenkirchen are only two examples for this uniqueness.

Of walking houses and street lamps in waters

Film artist Saschko Frey also followed various artists during the finding process of their works. Silke Wagner transformed the unattractive location of the sewage plant in Bottrop, while Japanese installation artist Tadashi Kawamata´s monumental wooden tower at the Rhine-Herne canal attracts people to the Emscher.

But there was a lot more to see: The Walking House that walked around the Emscher Island on its six feet, or Bogomir Ecker and Bülent Kullukcu´s Street lamp in the waters of the Herner Meer for example. Also Mark Dion, Piet Oudolf or Olaf Nicolai have taken on the responsibility of providing EMSCHERKUNST.2010 with meaningful content. At the end, this huge project was a big success, and it showed that the above mentioned motto »Change through culture« is possible.

 

Photos: 2010LAB.tv

 More reviews of the year:

 

• Review 2010: View behind the curtains

• Review 2010: Music across all boundaries

• Review 2010: Capital of Culture RUHR.2010