بین الأضواء / IN BETWEEN LIGHTS

photo © Jennifer Braun

Installation in public space, 2 street lanterns, Cologne and Tunis, DE/TN, 2018
Photo and video documentation of the processes in both countries

The art installation IN BETWEEN LIGHTS is a precise, focused intervention in public space, exchanging two street lanterns between the twin cities Cologne and Tunis – continents apart.

Street lanterns Tunis (left) & Cologne (right)
Street lanterns Tunis (left) & Cologne (right)

By exchanging a Tunis street light with a Cologne street light, IN BETWEEN LIGHTS creates a visible connection link between them, highlighting 65 years of inter-continental partnership between the twin cities in Tunisia and Germany, Northern Africa and Europe.

The street lights travel across the sea in opposite directions, creating a link between two invisible spaces.

The complex process of realization – involving exchange between the cities’ administrations, art institutions, logistic companies, harbours, nautical companies, truck companies as well as local city workers in Tunis and Cologne – is inherent part of the concept.

Exchanging two lanterns from two continents, each with unique cultural, historical and political background, connects the cities in a visible way, also bringing their original context to the new location. Themes of colonialism and migration are touched. The exchange of two street lights highlights aspects of the complex global connection of spaces, places and their interwoven past, present and future.

Pre-existing spatial and infrastructural conditions are consciously utilised instead of claiming new space to avoid mimicking strategies of colonization.

Tunislantern at Hahnentor, Cologne, DE and Cologne lantern at Bab Bhar, Tunis, TN
Tunislantern at Hahnentor, Cologne, DE and Cologne lantern at Bab Bhar, Tunis, TN

Both street light types contrast with their new surroundings, irritating the public space. Each relocated street light establishes a unique relation and connection with the other lanterns. It weaves a subtle field of tension among them, changing the dynamic of place – in Tunis and in Cologne – while persistently fulfilling their purpose.

IN BETWEEN LIGHTS is realised in cooperation with Collumina light art festival Cologne and Interference light art festival Tunis via Academy of Media Arts Cologne, Urban Stage ff – Mischa Kuball.

Opening

16th of May 2018, 8:30 PM, Hahnentorburg, Rudolfplatz, Cologne, DE
6th of September 2018, 6:00 PM, Bab Bhar, Place de la Victoire, Tunis, TN

Installation sites, Tunis and Cologne
Installation sites, Tunis and Cologne
1600 km linear distance between the sister cities Tunis and Cologne - NASA night view, 2016
1600 km linear distance between the sister cities Tunis and Cologne – NASA night view, 2016
Special Thanks

Henriette Reker, Seifallah Lasram, Prof. Mischa Kuball, Dr. Ralf Seippel, Bettina Pelz, Aymen Gharbi, Johannes Geyer, Lydia Klütsch, Souad Sassi, Claudia Bleier, Jürgen & Petra Paulus, Regina Barunke, Michael Kitzel, Mejd Ben Salem, Ilyès Zarrouk, Ferdaous Kabteni, Atfa Mihoub, Walid Ben Nasr, Montasser Naghmouchi, Olfa, Kais Jendoubi, Abir Akriche-Jendoubi, Sarah Academy of Media Arts Cologne Sadek, Ahmed al Muniwari, Lena Al-Odeh, Karin Michalski, Nana, Frankie, Dalia, Dali, Karem, Gerald Neffen, Christian Klug, Markus Lambert, Meujüt und Michael, Heike Junggeburth, Ingrid Klenner

Partners

Partner Logos In Between Lights

Academy of Media Arts Cologne / Urban Stage ff – Prof. Mischa Kuball
Collumina
Interference
Municipality of Tunis
Referat für Internationales Köln
Stadtraummanagement Köln
Cargo Marketing Spedition Deutschland GmbH
Voices of Jasmine eV
Kölner Kulturpaten
Rheinenergie AG
German Embassy Tunis
ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen

Opening event at Rudolfplatz, Cologne, 2018, photo: Lüder Schruff
Hahnentorburg, Rudolfplatz, Cologne, DE, 2018
Process photos

Tunis lantern unveiling, Rudolfplatz, Cologne, DE, 2018

Preparing one of four lantern heads of the Tunis lantern for shipment in Tunis.
Preparing one of four lantern heads of the Tunis lantern for shipment in Tunis.
Finalizing cargo crates.
Finalizing cargo crates.
Finished boxes in Tunis ready for shipment from Tunisia to Germany.
First four of six finished boxes in Tunis ready for shipment from Tunisia to Germany.
Live tracked lantern cargo shipment Tunis / Genoa, 17-19th March: AMILCAR, MMSI: 672747000
Part I: Live tracked Tunis lantern cargo shipment Tunis / Genoa, 17-19th March: AMILCAR, MMSI: 672747000
Arrival of Tunis lantern in Cologne.
Arrival of Tunis lantern crates in Cologne.
Unpacking the Tunis lantern heads in Cologne, checking the lights.
Unpacking the Tunis lantern heads in Cologne, checking the lights.
Covering the installed Tunis lantern at Rudolfplatz before the opening.
Covering the installed Tunis lantern at Rudolfplatz before the opening.

 

Live tracked Cologne lantern cargo shipment Livorno / Tunis, 11-12th July: SALAMMBO, MMSI: 672247000
Part II: Live tracked Cologne lantern cargo shipment Livorno / Tunis, 11-12th July: SALAMMBO, MMSI: 672247000

 

 Exhibition

Screening of work in progress video at Galerie Seippel, Cologne, during festival days 22.3-24.3.2018 for COLLUMINA light art festival.
More

Exhibition view, documentation, Galerie Seippel, Cologne, DE, 2018
Exhibition view, documentation video, Galerie Seippel, Cologne, DE, 2018

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