Hack declares documenta 12 a climate refugee camp

In 1992, the German artist Hermann Josef Hack presented his “Van Gogh TV – piazza virtuale”, the first interactive TV project, at the documenta IX in Kassel, the most important exhibition of contemporary art. Even back in those days he was interested in making the effects of global change a subject for discussion.

15 years and three documentas later, he has reached the conclusion that absolutely nothing has changed – everybody seems to be ignoring the need for drastic changes in their life styles. But Hack is not the type to resign lightly. “It is more important than ever that we shake up those people who bear responsibility and those who just follow their lead. This is a challenge for art and artists which we have to accept.“

Today, Hack has declared the campus of the documenta a climate refugee camp. In front of the Museum Fridericianum, at the main entrance, Hack fixed a big banner with his message in order to drastically demonstrate the consequences of climate change. “Maybe people will react if they know what lies in store," Hack hopes. “Europe is facing a never-ending flow of climate refugees.

From June 13 to 16, Hack has set up a climate refugee tent with the help of the German Red Cross Kassel, wich is situated on the campus of the Kassel University, near Holländischer Platz. There, Hack invites visitors to find solutions for climate refugee support in Kassel. Everybody is welcome to participate.

Greenpeace says that the daily tragedies off the West African coast and the Canary Isles are the result of climate change. The solution cannot be to build higher border fences. After all, climate change is not being caused by those regions where it produces such a high death toll. Europe is responsible for about 21 percent of global energy consumption, Africa for just three percent. Today, 20 million climate refugees are registered. Their number will rise to 50 million within the next four years. I want people to be prepared to welcome those refugees who have had to leave their homes because of our egoistic and destructive policy. The documenta campus will be an international climate refugee camp where everybody is welcome.”

On February 8, 2007, Hack declared the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany a climate refugee camp. The Bonn Kunstverein followed the next day. Hack declared the Museum Ludwig in Cologne a climate refugee camp on April 20 and intends to declare the whole City of Berlin a climate refugee camp in the autumn. Several more cities are to follow.

Hack is proud to mention that Chilean artist Lotty Rosenfeld, who is taking part in the documenta 12, will be documenting his documenta project.

Hack has chosen LokayDruck www.Lokay.de as his exclusive print media partner because this firm uses resources sparingly and takes the need for sustainability seriously. Thanks to LokayDruck’s support, information on Hack’s entire documenta project can be made available free of charge.