Eco in Norway: Art and ecology

In Norway, we have loads of ecological innovation in both technology, architecture, recycling and education. But I´d say the position where we have the most universal agreements with the rest of this green world, is in the world of art! At least there is one area where we all agree on what is the most important: Having dreams. This past week, there has been running an exhibition called "Gentle Actions" at the Artist Center. I was there for two days of this week, mainly to get more contacts for my own plans in the collaboration field, but also to view some of its installations and films, like this recommended "Garbage Dreams" about western trash companies recycling 25 perscent destroying a people movement of a genius 80 percent recycling system in the poor areas of Cairo :



The trip to this exhibition was well worth it, as the non-profit Green Drinks-organization made people gather just to talk randomly about environment as we discovered as soon as many people join together, less people are avoiding to not do something. There was a speaker from the University of Oslo, saying something very important to us: When the environment movements fragments into different directions, one of the most common fears is that the future tomorrow might not be here. While she was stating, the future of tomorrow is NOT created yet. We have to remember, that the future is how we DECIDE. We are designing it, every moment.

The future is not built, nor can be predicted in detail, as it depends on how we act , from now ON. And upon action, one can build what is not yet built. So therefor she was calming down a fact we all worry about: The way we destroy our planet or the way we act today. It does not necessarily mean that we can not change it. Because we know our faults. And it is much easier to turn around when you know, than if you don't. We are somewhat lucky, because especially the internet, and the worldwide books and education and knowledge, has taught us something useful. We can design. We often forget that we are creators. Like this artist group. We design, every new change. There is nothing that we can not do.

Today,  I watched an imported popular science-program on national TV about finding intelligent life on other planets (still running with same popularity with the same questionmarks since the first black 'n white-shows about green men in the late 60s), and I payed much attention until the stupid last comment at the end of it: "And when we find Sigma"..finally at the end of planet searches similar to Earth.."..in 2040, we can then send a lazer searching for industrial garbage surrounding its atmosphere...", and listen..this is even more stupid: "..which will give us signs about INTELLIGENT life on another planet maybe highly more developed than what we are today"...... yea. As if industrial garbage in space is what all planet intelligent creatures figure out  is the one way out. The one way to developement, as we have learned from the very start of our western civilization only pushing us further to its limit. Aaargh... Forget it, Earth, you'll never find life on other planets searching like you do.

A quite different kind of intelligence

Eco in Denmark: The green sculpture at Aarhus Festival !

On September 4th, I went on daytrip to The Aarhus Festival, an annual celebration of the city and its growth and expansion in primarily cultural and social directions. Aarhus in Denmark is a city known for its cultural design, in which for instance norwegian city Drammen (one of my hometowns, and which has become very famous for its expansion in "city wellness" and moving from industrial city into cultural city) has its inspiration from on cultural developement and city infrastructure strategies (at least from what I learned at Cultural Admin- studies in Telemark University College in '08).

Aarhus has now become, very similar to Drammen, enormously proud of their social togetherness. Culture, we must not forget, is very connected to environment and, individual. Cultural design, is based on knowing that there is "culture" everywhere when there is more than one person in the same environment making a task. So, you might say, pride is also a result of togetherness-structure, and not necessarily a human individual feeling. Even though, no one can take away your feel of liberty when walking down a clean car-free street and with your hands full of money, shoppingbags or an ice cream. But, the point is that the ice cream, and the shoppingbag, and your money, is not in your pocket at all - they're designed to be in the area of the cultural infrastructural design that somebody created as a city.



A storytelling tent, an art installation with light design inside



What this has to do with ecology? Quite alot. City developement tells alot about ecology, in fact it is just flagship by flagship structuring our feeling of not only togetherness, but mostly freedom and simple living. The feeling of being completely free of duties and mess, and with planted trees among roundabouts and little plastic lakes popping up here and there. It is simply designed after your heartbeat. And, very much in the time of this time. The green times.

Aarhus has got it at least in the sentence of knowing, except from being just another town. And here is their proud sculpture:

The text zoomed-in on the green sculpture of Aarhus

The text on this sculpture says: "The Green Pavillion" - With this unique sculpture, Skykon A/S wishes to signify Aarhus' green image. The Green Pavillion is developed in a sensational material of bio degradability consisting of soya beans, cork, flax and corn in material, which will contribute on a major scale in developing new equipment for composite production in the wind mill industry. A pleasure for all of us. You might touch this sculpture!"

The green thing was standing on a grass field in the section called ParallellUniverse Festival, a music concert area of free entrance sa part of the Aarhus Festival, supporting fair football as well as upcoming artists. I could listen to some very nice electronica by Dj Foxfire, a very good one I must say! The danish are some hiphopper-gangsta-lovers.:) The fair football included people passing by to join. There was also a FairTrade-shop for coffee and drinks with volunteers working. A nice section, too.

Reading corner, free seats and concert scene