16. International Workshop Week - Theme “Dignity"
16. Internationale Werkstattwoche – "Thema Würde"
Internationale Werkstattwoche – International Workshop Week “Dignity"
01.07.2023 – 10.07.2023 / Lüben, Lower Saxony. Germany
For ten days, 18 artists from seven nations stayed in the village of Lüben (today part of the town of Wittingen)/ The artists working in the fields of painting, drawing, photography, video and installation. During Workshop week I created two installations (Land Art) "9048 - Courage, Wisdom, Compassion" and "9049 - Between Heaven and Earth" in the public space of the village. Worked on pupils day one afternoon with two 11 years old pupils. During the final presentation days on 8th and 9th of July 2023 I performed three times a new live performance called "The Plant" .
The concept approach towards the theme of Dignity is based on buddhist and Zen philosophy, but at the same time containing autobiographical elements. Therefor the installation work and the performance reflect the theme in a more metaphorical and symbolic style rather then in a direct manner.
The idea of installation 9048 is based on the 3 steps on path of reaching dignity which leasd towards Enlightment. The three steps are courage, wisdom, compassion. In contrast to the first installation, the second installation "9049" expresses more the invisible boundaries between heaven, earth and life. Furthermore, that everything in this world is visibly and invisibly connected. Dignity cannot be touched or visible object. Dignity is an expression, an attitude. Something between heaven and earth. All living beings and even objects have dignity. But dignity is a fragile thing. Which can easily be destroyed, by others or by oneself.
"9048 - Courage, Wisdom, Compassion"
"9049 - Between Heaven and Earth"
Live Performance The Plant
A silent dialogue about the concept of dignity in relation to time, stillness, the power of solitude and the fact that every living being and every object has its dignity. the work, has a strong philosophical approach, based on Buddhist and Zen thoughts, but at the same time containing autobiographical elements. It is a work with deliberate, limited slow paced movements and without words.
The performance is made up by deliberate movements and without words. To reflect the concept of dignity in relation to time, stillness, the power of solitude and the fact that every living being and every object has its dignity.
Pupils Afternoon
During the pupils day, when I worked with the two students in the afternoon. I gave as few instructions and interfered with their actions as little as possible. The result of this afternoon was both creating with the wind and experimenting with materials and elements. They also create a delicate land art art piece with the rope and branches between two large trees. The desire to get off the ground and fly away was the inspiration for their creativity on this particularly afternoon.