It’s a Beautiful World
Having arrived in Rostock today, early morning of a lazy Sunday, it is hard to believe that just yesterday these streets were the set for all that confrontation and violence.
The streets are empty, most shops are closed, and no burned trash bin in sight. But the “polizei” van in every corner, and the occasional broken glass in the sidewalks, makes one doubts one’s doubts.
In fact, a lot is happening behind this apparent stillness. A quick look at the week’s official guide shows you the offer is varied, from art and conferences, to demonstrations and concerts. And all this just on a ‘lazy’ Sunday.
If you walk along the harbor – something likely if you just arrived – you will find the “Art Goes Heiligendamm, Art Goes Public” sign. It’s an invitation for a series of artistic interventions. One of them is called Beautiful World, and it’s a film by the Dutch designer Mieke Gerritzen, done solely with typography.
“Beautiful World is a film about a feeling that prevails in the world at present. This feeling is one of joy, inspiration and refreshing innovation, but also one of being oppressed and manipulated through technology and economization. I call it a feeling because we cannot concretely define the situation: we cannot speak of left or right, black or white, text or image. It is a gray area, in which a mix of different cultures and countries, tradition and innovation, commercialism and idealism is searching for legitimacy. A world in which fusion and blending are forming an image of the future.”
In some short 20 minutes this film covers virtually all subjects in the agenda this last weeks. It's focus is clearly in emphasizing how “practically everything has become linked to economic interests.” It raises several significant questions, among which:
Is speed making life more superficial? Or also, do change and innovation mean that what is old no longer has value or meaning?
You can watch it until the 9th of June in the City Harbour Rostock, between Silo-u. Holzhalbinsel, Am Strande 6. More here: Art Goes Heiligendamm.
