LIQUID

In the organizer's words:

The walk traces the meaning of water on its winding paths from the deep sea to the big city, from the cold poles to the Rhine traffic artery, from the underground sewers to the ear canals. Listening to water, giving it a voice and fighting for its rights is a central theme of the performance, which has a major political dimension, as nature, territories, river courses, habitats, animals, seas and plants must be granted legal rights. Rights that are enforceable. These demands, which have since been enshrined in the constitutions of countries such as Colombia, Ecuador and many others, arose primarily in America on the initiative of the first inhabitants. This is because water is a vital resource that large corporations have recognized as a consumer product that is becoming increasingly polluted and scarce due to industry, lifestyle and carelessness. The source of life, threatened, powerful and violent, icy cold and airy, intangible and yet stunning, beautiful and terrible, grave and source of life at the same time. In the climate catastrophe, water reveals the full range of its power and vulnerability as sea levels and temperatures rise.

From the laudation:
"Listening to water. The natural sciences have long since deciphered the molecular properties of water, so it is only logical that a performer with a mobile laboratory joins the narrative voice via headphones to guide the audience on their journey to the water on the Rhine. The performer explains aggregate states, describes how water came to be on earth and why it is imperative that humans change the way we use resources. Asta Nechajute gives this character - to quote old Brecht - the social gesture of a scientist driven by the courage of despair. And who incorporates every disturbance of that special clientele that is at home around Ebertplatz into her lecture in a manner that is as confident as it is friendly. In this way, the concept of artistic intervention in public space comes as close to its idea of initiating new perspectives for social and political action as is rarely seen. Listening to the water: a political act in the spirit of the Kurt Hackenberg Prize. With this award, the jury recognizes not only the artistic quality, but also the cleverness and courage of WEHR51 in turning the city and its river into a stage to reflect on new perspectives for the urgent political task of protecting and preserving natural resources."
(2024 Dr. Sandra Nuy, jury member)

For LIQUID, WEHR51 is cooperating with Sea-Eye, Seebrücke and the motoki_Kollektiv, among others, who are working particularly intensively on projects for sea rescue in the Mediterranean. Joint campaigns and events are planned and bridges will be built to the topic in the media walk. Another partner is "der kleine Container", which is a contact point on Ebertplatz, as well as the project space of the City of Cologne, which will serve as an exhibition space for water samples.

Artistic directors: Andrea Bleikamp, Jens Standke, Rosi Ulrich / Director: Andrea Bleikamp / Texts/Dramaturgy: Rosi Ulrich / Video: Jens Standke / production management: Anke Schmitz / with: Asta Nechajute, Anna Möbus / interior design: Claus Stump / costume: Paula Noller / assistant director: Gina Bensch / lighting design / technology: Jan Kutscher, Kevin Defraey

A production by WEHR51, in co-production with Sea-Eye, Seebrücke and motoki_Kollektiv, in cooperation with DER KLEINE CONTAINER and Freihandelszone Ensemblenetzwerk Köln