Draw the Danube - Build a BridgeA Collective Action to Capture an Instant of the DanubeInvitation to Participate The Concept Water is essential for life, it is the foundation of human interaction. Cooperation in the use and handling of water and water resources made human civilization possible; today the Danube, like a lifeline, flows through a united Europe. "Draw the Danube - Build a Bridge “ strives to draw closer to the essence of the Danube by trying to collectively 'capture' an instant in the life of the river. Initiated by Joachim Eckl, this project aspires to create a unifying and forward-looking impulse to promote cross-border cooperation between people along the entire course of the river. On August 17th, 2017 at 3 pm, 280 teams will simultaneously capture an instant of the Danube: Close to 2000 people along its banks, from its origin in the Black Forest to its mouth at the Black Sea, will scoop handfuls of water from the river at exactly the same moment in time. They will pause to dedicate one hour to the river. Thus, in the course of one single afternoon, an instant of the Danube will be collected along the entire river. The individuals that will make this unique water painting possible will experience the unifying force of the Danube, shared by people and nations. The action makes this force spring to life, symbolizing the common ties, both natural and cultural, that connect the people of the region. The river speaks a language that transcends linguistic and political borders. The water collected during this joint action will later be exhibited in a giant [large-scale] sculpture. It is a proven concept that allows to build bridges between people, a bridge founded on the essential element that is water and on the conscious and simultaneous actions of humans. The project promotes a cooperative cultural identity, both inwardly and outwardly, in order to overcome human stereotypes constrained by nationalism. This 'social sculpture' in the Danube basin is meant to examplify the European idea - cooperation instead of confrontation. Project Partners We are looking for 24 responsible individuals and/or institutions to act as partners, playing a key role as beach heads and regional communicators along the river. They will serve as on-site motivators/inspirators, actively participating in the shaping of the event, while being fully integrated into the project organization. We invite you to become ambassadors and autonomous co-authors of this living Danube painting. The Facts The Danube region has played an important role in the history of civilization, and today it links ten sovereign European states along its entire course of close to 2 800 km (roughly 1 740 miles), making it the second-longest river in Europe. 1 071 kilometers of it constitute national borders, 342 bridges connect its banks. In 700 B.C., the Greeks were the first to navigate the Danube upriver from Tomis (Constanţa) at the Black Sea to the Iron Gate, and for the Romans, large sections of the river marked the limit of the empire, serving both as a border and a supply line. Today, the Danube flows through a united Europe! The project "Draw the Danube - Build a Bridge" envisions an approximately hour long simultaneous drawing of water along the course of the river at around 280 points of extraction (that is, about every 10 kilometers or about 6.2 miles), with 1 000 liters being collected at each site. At an average flow speed of about 10 km/h, the water collected in 280 one-cubic-meter transparent containers will represent an instant snapshot of the entire Danube. Subsequently, the water scooped at the different sites will be collected and gathered in an installation representing an instant of the Danube. This 'collective' snapshot will be shared with the partners along the river. The implementation of the project will be planned by the 24 regional partners. Each partner will supply and instruct 12 team leaders, and these, in turn, will put together teams of about 7 people per site to scoop the water by hand. This will add up to almost 2 000 participants. The Artist Joachim Eckl lives and works in Austria on the banks of the Große Mühl, a river in the so-called Mühl Quadrant, a region known for its majestic landscape and rich history. He has organized several such 'drawings' at different rivers over the last few years. Documentation of his work can be found at http://www.heimart.at. Additionally to over 100 projects of his own, Joachim Eckl has participated in the implementation of large-scale projects of Tony Cragg, Jeff Koons, Christo & Jean Claude, Klaus Rinke and others. His artistic work is based on an expanded concept of art, largely inspired by the notion of "social sculpture" coined by Joseph Beuys. By creating shared experiences, Eckl generates an impulse for "social sculptures". He sees himself as a "social landscaper or gardner". Water plays a central role in his work, for him it is an essential element of human interaction. |
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Contact Joachim Eckl Unternberg 6 A-4120 Neufelden eckl(at)servus.at >> www.heimart.at |
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