One of the most pressing concerns of the present day is to reconcile the goals of protecting the environment and the climate, the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources, and the associated decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear power plants with the increasing demand for energy resulting from Europe's digitization. 

The exhibition focuses on this enormous challenge and addresses approaches to solving these contradictory objectives. With a total of seven artworks, the exhibition highlights current positions and illustrates the global situation.

The Joint Research Centre of Europe shows five works from its Art Spaces collection. Barrels used for the disposal of radioactive waste are the artists’ starting point for their reflections and comments on a responsible energy supply, which also includes thoughts about its disposal. Works by Fabrizio Plessi, Raphael de Vittori Reizel, Paola Ravasio, Roberto Barni, and Peter Hide 311065 will be shown. The other two works by Karlsruhe-based media artist Sabine Schäfer use audiovisual explorations to open up a wider field of the interplay between energy supply, its achievements, and its price.

In addition to the audiovisual installation Fragil by Sabine Schäfer, which is a further development of the REM Light Image Gallery »MicroSonical Shining Biospheres No.1« by the artist duo <SA/JO> Sabine Schäfer and Joachim Krebs, the newly commissioned work »Europa – so nah, so fern« created by the artist for this occasion, will be on show for the first time in this exhibition. The two-part audiovisual work is interactive. The backlit glass panels of the free-standing object show satellite images of views of the continent and capital cities of the European Union at night, alongside a trio of music stands with audio QR code panels. Using a free image-scanning app, animated videos and sound compositions can be accessed via QR code.

Media artist and composer Sabine Schäfer lives and works in Karlsruhe. Her works are part of the collections of the ZKM and the city of Wolfsburg.

During this year’s European Heritage Days, GEDOK Karlsruhe and Europe's Joint Research Centre (JRC), will be guests at the ZKM | Karlsruhe.

From 03.05.2021, the exhibition introduction with the curator Dr. Annette Hünnekens (GEDOK) and video clips on the exhibits will be available on the Youtube channel of the City of Karlsruhe.

Credits

• Annette Hünnekens (Curator)
• Sabine Schäfer (Curator)

Organization / Institution

GEDOK Karlsruhe