Schwimmtieralarm

Art appropriation as a participatory experiment
Won art competition Aktion Leere Sockel.
Senate Department for Culture and Europe / District Office Treptow-Köpenick.

Actors: residents, inflatable pool animals, artist.

The question of whether a the inflatable pool animals were a gift or the person taking one was guilty of art theft was deliberately not clarified. Every week the cage was filled up. This ambivalence lead to different forms of appropriation: the residents identifying with the work and lively communication in the blog, the anonymous passers-by in secret or open "theft" of the inflatable pool animals.

The ambivalence of the unclear situation was provocative. Many people were happy about the colourful sculpture in the grey winter monotony and understood the idea as an idealistic investigation of a social problem. Some appreciated the idea, but classified it as futile from the outset. Others participated in the preservation of the work.

Some of the residents posted observations and photos to the blog from the beginning. Each time I added more inflatables many people approached me. The spectrum of comments on the work ranged from total rejection to very great acceptance. Moral indictment, "They are criminalizing children here." Meaningful question: "Are you reporting the thefts?" Suggested action: "You have to take the inflatables out of the cage". Useful function: "This is a puzzle for kids. They can rearrange the animals." Annoyance at shrinkage: "Just passed by on the bus. Am shocked. Except for the ball and the blue seal, it's empty." Compliments: "I never knew there were such beautiful inflatable animals." "Nice to see something happening here that changes every week."

Observation: "Today I was able to watch a man (I call him strongman - because of the label on his bag) patiently pull one of the orcas through the bars, unafraid of being caught. I was able to photograph him letting air out of the orca." (Mail and photo of a local resident, January 21, 2020)

Interim balance sheet In 16 weeks 126 of 147 swimming animals disappeared, 2 anonymous donations in kind completed the collection. 23 "leftovers" remained for several weeks. 5 floating animals fell victim to vandalism. (Dog). Even in the final weeks of the Corona crisis, most inflatables continued to disappear.

The planned finissage with music had to be cancelled due to corona. Instead, the residents gave me a gift on the last day. With a collection of inflatable musical instruments the residents thanked me and there was a small unofficial farewell party, some remaining inflatable animals were given away. A thousand thanks again to everyone who participated, who sent pictures and comments for the blog, who followed the action and also to those who were annoyed. So they could vent their anger about art theft. I hope that all the infaltable animals have found a nice new home. All the remaining floating animals were launched in the summer with music.

Photographs: Nora Fuchs / Mike Dean / Residents

Diary:

SCHWIMMTIERALARM

SCHWIMMTIERALARM_LOGBUCH

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