Discussions, Butoh performance and installation complement the “Democratic Forest”
The 13th International Forest Art Trail in Darmstadt will be accompanied by several events on the upcoming weekends in September. Under the theme "Democratic Forest," the program on September 5th and 6th includes discussions about urban nature and social participation, a Butoh performance, and the digital installation "Voices – Votes – Views."
Thomas May's Grashalm Institute will explore in two rounds of discussions the role that citizen participation, community action and common goods can play in democratic processes.
Urban nature and forest as a common good
On Saturday, September 5th, at 3 p.m., Prof. Dr. Jörg Dettmar from the Resilient City Competence Center at TU Darmstadt will speak about "Democratic Landscapes." His talk will focus on the importance of urban nature and public spaces for encounters, co-creation, and social participation. The event will be complemented by a written contribution from the journalist Elisabeth Voß.
On Sunday, September 6, at 3 p.m., Ute Ritschel, curator of the International Forest Art Trail, and Larissa Arras from the UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstraße-Odenwald will discuss the forest as a common good and the connection between art, geology, and social responsibility. Visitors are welcome to contribute their own thoughts on the topic of "Democratic Forest."
Both discussion rounds will take place under the tent roof of the Grashalm Institute near the information stand at the intersection behind the forest parking lot at Böllenfalltor.
Butoh dance and body painting in the forest art village
Rosel Grassmann and Anna Orkolainen take a different approach to the theme. On Saturday, September 5th, at 4 pm and 6 pm, they will present a performance at the Forest Art Village that combines body painting with Japanese Butoh dance.
The artist collective groupV, consisting of Gudrun Aßmann, Paul Hirsch, Volkmar Hoppe, Hans-Joachim Völker, and Peter Zuppa, also presents their digital installation "Voices – Votes – Views". The work explores democratic principles within the forest habitat.
The installation can be seen on Sunday, September 6th, and again on Sunday, September 27th, from 2 pm to 6 pm at the Waldkunstdorf (Forest Art Village).
(DARMSTADT – RED/PM)
