NB NB - This is a preliminary
concept, 9 February 2009 – NB NB
If
the ice cap melts...
Seven
Metres
An art happening by Jens Galschiot
about migration, civilization breakdown, environment, the rising water,
flashing lights and indigenous people
Background: The global warming will cause great demographic
changes, as part of the earth can't be inhabited by human beings, because of
the drought and floods. This will cause millions to migration. How are we going
to handle that? - When 300 refugees in
If
all of
Idea: During the United Nations climate summit, thousands of red blinking
diode-lamps (bike lights) will be put up all around
The
blinking red lights will be an artistic visual warning about the impending
disaster, if nothing is done about the climate.
The
lights in
The
simplicity and visibility will have a huge visual impact. It will reach all of
the participants of the summit, the people of
The goal is, that
project Seven Metres will be an eye opener for the citizens of the world
for the issue of climate change, and the
consequences. The event shall remind the world about, the crucial questions at
stake at the summit, - that it is not only about the extermination of a lot of
animal species, but that the climate changes will affect billions of people and
have extreme consequences for everyone on the globe.
The goal is to make the symbol so famous, that a red blinking light
under a meeting or a demonstration, will lead the thoughts onto the environment
problem.
The project will not have any concrete guidelines on how an environment
catastrophe can be avoided; we will leave that to other people. The goal is to
urge for reflection and encourage to act both locally
and globally.
Art: Danish
sculptor Jens Galschiot is the initiator of the project Seven Metres.
Galschiot views art as non-verbal communication and often uses his art to
create international happenings, which focuses on the defence of a humanitarian
view of humanity. Usually he uses sculptures in his art manifestations, but
this time he has chosen an installation of light, the simplicity of which
should enable it to spread across the globe.
Galschiot
adds a few words to the project, “In fact, this is not a truly a campaign, traditionally speaking. The event should work as a catalyst for a
sort of wave of feeling, which will sweep across the world. The project has
much more in common with poetry than it has with actual political activism. It
is a global story, which tells itself. One could say that we are starting a
battle over the interpretation of reality.
In
meteorology and physics you work with the ‘butterfly-effect’, that says that
the world is so complex and coherent, that if a butterfly flaps its wings in
The project will, through its own dynamics, function
as what Joseph Beuys called a ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’ in which the distinction
between the artist, the art itself and the viewer has become blurred. Everybody
becomes part of the art event if they want it or not. By involving the land, that people live on,
in this happening, the size of the catastrophe will stand clear for them. Many
will support the campaign hanging up diode-lights in their local area. Others
will try to ignore it, but the red insisting catastrophe-blinking will
instigate a fear, about the land that will leave less and less space for the
human being.
Doomsday messages:
The
message with the 7-metre-line can be criticized for being doomsday prophetic,
while the risk of a total meltdown of the inland ice lies far off in the
future. However, the argument is that it is necessary to focus on how wrong it
can go – even though it is in the long term. The meltdown is going much faster
than earlier thought, almost every month new and higher numbers come out for
the expected water risings within this century.
You have to be aware of the fact
that it isn’t a scientific project that is in question, but an artistic
interpretation of the environmental problem. An interpretation which is
intended for mass communication and for creating an up-to-the-minute account of
what an eventual future could look like. A kind of poem in the public space,
where it isn’t the concrete word, but the coherence and atmosphere that the
whole poem creates that is interesting.
It isn’t enough just to change to
energy-saving bulbs! A change in attitude and consumption is needed, that reaches
far, far further. It is quite simply a necessity to cut the issue out in water for the message to be received.
Anyway, a
Many people aren’t aware of the
part humans play in the climatic changes. A current poll shows that four in ten Danes don’t
believe in a man-made greenhouse effect. A poll from the opinion-research
institute Synovate Vilstrup shows that 62 % think that climate changes primarily
is man-made. The remaining 38 % explains the climate changes as natural
fluctuations or answer “don’t know”. (Source: the newspaper Politiken, 30
November 2008).
Symbolism
The
symbolism of an art happening will always be open to
manifold interpretations with various layers. Here just some suggestions:
Publication
It’s an essential aim of the project to make it
a conspicuous public event during the climate summit in
Internet
We’ll make use of Jens Galschiot’s network
(AIDOH - Art In Defence Of Humanism) with about
100,000 contacts to the media, NGOs, art circles etc. all over the world. We’ll
inform about the happening and encourage everybody to forward our message to
their own network. We’ll constantly be briefing the network about the course of
events.
We’ll establish various profiles, newsgroups,
debate forums etc. on the Internet, including Facebook and similar networks. We’ll
invite the bloggers to promote the event.
Websites: The Internet-domain ‘Seven-Metres.net’
(Note. not decided yet) will work as an interactive (web2) pivotal point
and catalyst for the event. Here the press and interested can find inspiration,
background and suggestions on how to use the red diode-lights in a creative
way, in relation to the environment summit (COP15) in
The website will contain:
·
Support
lists of those who supports the project, and will put up the blinking diode-lights
in their country relation to COP15. One can also join directly on the website
and write about what you have planned and what you think about the event.
·
Comment-blog,
where you can what you think about the project, COP15 and the environment.
·
There
will be made an e-mailing-list, for those who want to be updated about the
project.
·
Interactive
mailing system to forward the Seven Metres idea to your own mailing
list.
·
The
website will also be used to the dissemination
of news to the press, about how the actions proceeds and you can download
photos and background articles about the event and the environment issue.
·
Directions of how one can use the idea. There is simply going to be a
manual about, how you as an individual, as an organization or as a grassroots
movement can be a part of the event.
Google
Earth
We are hoping
to establish a co-operation with Google Earth, so it will be possible for
citizens all over the world to see where the
There is already a website where you, all over the globe, can see the
areas that will be flooded in different places. It's a very frightening sight.
All of the isle of Amager and big parts of
Printed materials: In connection with the event there will be published
an over sized A3 folder, which, in unfolded form, can be used as a poster. The
poster will be of good artistic quality and it will be made in a way, so it also works
as the COP15 meeting 'grass root poster'. It is our experience that this type
of folders/posters will be taken home as a kind of souvenir from the meeting.
The
folder contains information about the project, about the purpose and a link to
website of the project.
Contact to the media: During the event as well as before
and after we will give high priority to the media coverage. We expect the media
to take interest not only in the event itself, but also in the underlying
questions, such as climate research and climate change. As an organisational
backdrop we’ll establish a network of contact persons who can promote the
project in the media.
Umbrella project: Seven
Metres is a sort of umbrella project enabling NGOs and individuals to
highlight their causes. It will not launch its own agenda, but as a poignant
art manifestation it will accentuate that something is completely wrong about
our environment and that humanity will face fatal problems if the climate
question is neglected. Due to the open agenda many environmental NGOs can use
the project to draw attention to their perspectives for the future. We have
made use of a similar strategy during the event TheColorOrange where a wide range of apparently highly diverging
NGOs used the colour orange to denounce the human rights violations in china
during the Olympics. A gymnastics club in southern
Engaging the civil society: It’s of paramount importance that
ordinary citizens – residents in
The
initiator of the happening: Sculptor Jens Galschiot is probably one of the most experienced event
makers in
Examples of other comprehensive activities made
by the artist can be seen on www.aidoh.dk.
This
event is secured a huge visibility in
The
project contains great possibilities for NGO organisations which would like to
participate and raise their profiles in the public debate in connection to the
COP15 meeting. Through the cooperation with a few significant organisations we
hope to provide the solid foundation of knowledge that is needed to launch a
serious public debate.
We have made a collection of links about
environmental issues:
Obvious
partners would be organisations representing people who will be victimised by
even a small water rising. For example
To the extend the collaborator wants it we will strive to make
use of the media contact to ensure the partner access to the media in
connection to the event.
We would like cooperation with private
companies, who will be ready to sponsor the project, in cash or by logistic
contribution, e.g. the production of the many diode lamps. Undoubtedly the
connection to such a remarkable event with an unambiguous message crucial for
the future of mankind will have a strong impact for boosting the image of a
company.
1st stage until February 2009
Raising financial foundation for the event
2nd stage from February - September
2009
Organizing, planning and arrangement
3rd stage from September to November
2009
Final preparation
4th stage from November - December
2009
Completion and evaluation on the event
As
mentioned the idea is to mark long line at seven metres level on several public
buildings etc. in
The
mounting of the lamps will primary be the result of helping hands from
volunteers who will be activated through the website, the grass-roots
movements, NGO’s etc.
The
lamps are mounted with rubber bands made of nature latex which is environmental
sustainable. The actual light forces will probably be cycle lamps. We are
looking for a producer to make them as sustainable as possible, Ikea for
instance. The lamps will be gathered as needed.
Through the work of planning we will clarify
how many buildings, trees etc. will be involved in the event.
Budget for the project Seven Metres
NB NB - Preliminary budget 6
February 2009 - NB NB
Setting up diode lamps:
Buying about 15,000 diode lamps of each 10
DKK 150,000
DKK
Material, ladders and other tools to hang up
the lamps
10,000 DKK
Driving in connection to hanging 8,000
DKK
Sundries
8,000 DKK
Total for setting up diode lamps 176,000
DKK
Producing posters and handbills:
Graphic design, photo shoots, setting up
handbills in folded A3 12,000
DKK
Printing and folding 45,000 (English/Danish)
handbills/posters in colour 40,000 DKK
Total producing of posters and printings
52,000 DKK
Setting up the website 30,000
DKK
Organiser to organize the happening,
setting up activist network, maintenance of
the website etc.
9 months of 23,000 DKK
207,000 DKK
Setting up database and registration of all
organisations and individuals
globally who are to be involved in the
happening, 10,000 records:
3 months work of 23,000 DKK 69,000 DKK
Office, computers, fax, phones, etc.: 6 months
of 3,000 DKK
18,000 DKK
Phone and fax - a graphic fax page in A4 format
of the poster which is sent out world wide 10,000
pages
20,000 DKK
Postage and packing, 5,000 posters sent out
world wide
30,000 DKK
Administrative help: 6 months of 23,000 DKK
138,000 DKK
Various expenses
9,000 DKK
Total for the organization of the happening 491,000 DKK
Total for the whole happening 749,000
DKK
Jens Galschiot
Banevaenget 22
DK-5270
Tel: +45 6618 4058
Mail: aidoh@aidoh.dk
Internet: www.aidoh.dk
See: www.aidoh.dk/7m