Waiting For The River by Observatorium
With Waiting for the River (“Warten auf den Fluss”) the Dutch artist group Observatorium created a very special project. First shown in context of the very first edition of Emscherkunst within the European capital of culture RUHR.2010, the sculpture instantly became a darling of the public.
During the art summer of 2016 the installation it was shown once more, this time near the monumental waterway bridge of Emscher and Rhine-Herne-Canal in Castrop-Rauxel.
The about 38 Meters long roofed bridge sculpture is divided in three pavillons. Its zigzag shape create a broad panorama into the surrounding landscape, with small courtyards in between the pavilions. In terms of concept and function, this sculptural structure is an architectural proposal: until the new Emscher Valley actually becomes a reality in 2020, the bridge and its three pavilions will serve as a place for “productive waiting”, since it is through here that the re-naturalized Emscher will flow. Waiting for the River is therefore (still) a “sleeping bridge”. At the same time, says Observatorium, it is “three things: a work of fantasy, a reflection on the environment, and a building block for a community.” The sculpture offers space for waiting, washing, eating, drinking and sleeping. Here, guests can reflect about the promise of a natural river.
The installation is now closed, it will be shown again in 2017 during GREEN CAPITAL in the city of Essen.
The Emscher is a river in the middle of one of the most intriguing and innovative urban regions - the Ruhr Area. In ten years time the river Emscher, now a sewer canal between dikes will be a natural river again. It is the symbol of change for Ruhrgebiet. Observatorium symbolizes the anticipation of better times and a better environment by building a living covered bridge for a river that is not there yet and invites people to wait 24 hours for the river.
