Catalogue to the exhibition EMSCHERKUNST.2010
European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010
An Island for the Arts
Publishing date: August 19, 2010
The restoration of the Emscher, a canalized river more than eighty kilometers long in the northern Ruhr region, is currently one of the largest renaturation projects in the world. The heart of the project, Emscher Island, stretches out for thirty-four kilometers between the Emscher and the Rhine-Herne-Canal. The island has been incorporated into the EMSCHERKUNST.2010 project, one of the events celebrating the European Capital of Culture. Forty internationally known artists, including Rita McBride, Lawrence Weiner, Mark Dion, Tobias Rehberger and Tadashi Kawamata, have agreed to create works of art for the island based on their rigorous examinations of the region. Their works for public space – the spectrum ranges from “singing rocks” and an ornithology station to a travelling Punch and Judy show – will be on display at unusual sites between Castrop-Rauxel and Oberhausen, for instance, at canal locks, in the canal itself, or on the outer shell of a former digestion tower. After an introduction to the history of the region and contemporary issues, the book takes the reader on a journey across Emscher Island in words and pictures.
German, English
216 pages, 211 illustrations, 152 in color
Hatje Cantz publishers
For further information see www.emscherkunst.de.
Due to the great success, the exhibition has been extended to September 18, 2010.
A finissage will be held at the art work “Monument for a forgotten future” by Olaf Nicolai,
Douglas Gordon and Mogwai, combined with its official inauguration.
Background information:
The exhibition EMSCHERKUNST.2010 is a collaborative project produced by the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010 (Artistic Director, City of Possibilities: Karl-Heinz Petzinka), the Emschergenossenschaft and the Regionalverband Ruhr. EMSCHERKUNST.2010 project office and curator Prof. Florian Matzner are responsible for the organisation of the exhibition.
The exhibition is open daily from May 29 to September 18, 2010; admission is free.
Visitor Guides provide information about the art works from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. An extensive program of events accompanies the exhibition (guided tours, readings, artist’s talks etc.)
The EMSCHERKUNST.2010 Visitor Center, located in the Nordsternpark in Gelsenkirchen, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 19 p.m. There is available a short guide, cycling maps and further informational material.
The eight show rooms are best experienced by bicycle: three bike rental stations are located next to the EMSCHERKUNST.2010 Visitor Center in the Nordsternpark in Gelsenkirchen, the Kaisergarten in Oberhausen as well as the museum Strom und Leben in Recklinghausen. Beyond that there are further bike rental stations to be found in close surroundings to the Emscher (www.revierrad.de). In addition, the EMSCHERKUNST.ship of the Weiße Flotte Essen provides a shuttle service between Oberhausen and Nordsternpark.
Press contact
EMSCHERKUNST.2010
Patricia Bender
Telefon: +49 (0)201 104 2670
Fax: +49 (0)201 269 7730
Email: bender.patricia@eglv.de
Cover: EMSCHERKUNST.2010″/ Hatje Cantz publishers
