In the volunteer editorial team, volunteers for Chemnitz 2025 publish reports on their experiences, assignments and adventures around the European Capital of Culture.
Kerstin is 59 years old and works as an office communications clerk. Born in Burgstadt, she is a volunteer at various Chemnitz 2025 events; among other things, she launched the countdown to the European Capital of Culture year together with Lord Mayor Sven Schulze and other guests.
What is the KOSMOS?
KOSMOS Chemnitz is a festival for democracy, a network and a platform for debate and discussion. It enables an exchange between creative artists and committed citizens on relevant topics of our society and the future of Chemnitz and Europe. KOSMOS is a meeting place for thousands of people (115,000 this year) who want to experience music, culture, discussions, art and new perspectives together. At Kosmos Chemnitz, we celebrate diversity, openness and togetherness - in the centre of the city, with free admission.
300 programme items - 70 locations - 2,500 participants (one of whom was me) - 115,000 guests ❤️
My assignment was at the "foam art "stand
I had read in advance in the programme flyer that the artist Stephanie Lüning was delving deep into the fascinating world of foam and unveiling a series of works that redefine and dissolve the boundaries of painting and space. I couldn't imagine much about this and with this little prior knowledge, I approached the people in charge at the stand. Unfortunately, the artist was not there for family reasons, but two of her assistants and a photographer who had travelled all the way from Vienna were. At the side of the road were five large barrels that had just been filled with tap water, buckets of paint, water sprayers, a folding ladder and an old white caravan in the middle of the cordoned-off road. The programme was briefly explained to us volunteers and then we were divided into different areas, e.g. cordoning off the action area, observing the foam and, if necessary, containing it with water from the water sprayer. I was assigned to the photographer. The photographer, Robert, walked around the action area with me and determined various points from where he hoped to take nice photos of the action. I was to place the ladder at these points during the foam performance. It sounded easy and I was excited to see what kind of action was about to begin. Many spectators had gathered behind the barrier tape. Now it started and lots of yellow foam poured out of the windows, the door and the roof window of the caravan. Lots of little soap bubbles were created, which the wind blew upwards like clouds and towards the spectators. My legs and shoes were suddenly completely yellow. Now I heard Robert shout: "Position 1 please", and I got the ladder ready for him so that he could climb up and take better photos of the foam on the caravan and on the road from all positions. In the meantime, red and dark purple-coloured foam was also being pushed out of the caravan. The children could no longer be held back and bathed in the foam. The colour was food colouring and therefore not harmful to health and could also be washed out. The children had a lot of fun. (The parents not so much, because the children were coloured yellow-red-purple from head to toe) Robert took lots of photos from all positions. There were around 400 in total. Selected photos will be presented to the art-loving public in a gallery and on the Internet.
Conclusion: Great effort, I was very close to the (colour) action! And take a look at the photos, because they speak for themselves! Artistically beautiful and filled with (real) life.