Archive of Floating Things
artistic research (multi-part publication, riso & digital print, flexible edition of 100; hanging installation of found objects) / 2021–2023
From 22nd of August until 17th of October 2021 I’ve been travelling the river Danube on board the research vessel MS-FUSION. Between Danube kilometre 1902 (Orth / Donau, Austria) and 0 (Sulina, Romania), all kind of flotsam is being fished out of the Danube with a landing net, measured and documented. Driftwood, plastic bottles, fruits, feathers, polystyrene – fragmentary leftovers of society, souvenirs of human ignorance, pieces of nature shaped by water, and many surprises.
I tried different approaches on how to “read” all the collected materials, and to invite the viewers to discover. Besides the tangible aspects, I also touch on questions of the creation of value, of permanence and durability, and the paradox of holding on to something ephemeral.
Project Phase I: Research & Collecting
MS-FUSION A.I.R. (22nd of August until 17th of October 2021) supported by BMKOES – Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport, Austria
Project Phase II: Reflecting & Creating (Publication and Installation)
Residency at footnote – centre for image and text, Belgrade (February–April 2023) supported by Culture Moves Europe Mobility Fund (financed by the European Union, implemented by Goethe-Institute)
The Archive of Floating Things is a long term project with many different phases of collecting, floating, documenting, doubting, discussing, questioning, ignoring, sorting, walking, reading, thinking, trying, moving, changing, printing, flowing, folding, cutting, binding. It has been realized with the help of many (and I hope to remember all different kinds of exchange and support):
MS-FUSION crew (Rainer Prohaska, Florian Sorgo, Dietmar Tollerian, Christina Helena Romirer, Anita Fuchs, Kerstin Reyer, Sabrina Bühn, Kilian Jörg), Angela Priemetzhofer, Carina Papouschek, Bernadette Luger, Franziska Thurner, Nenad Vasic, Jovan Jovic, Nikola Rajic, Mia Ćuk, Allan Parker, Viktor Vejvoda, Maxim Polyakov, Ivan Heidel, Iljias, Jenya, Calin, Iulia, Marian, Miloš, Danilo, and other Danube acquaintance and Belgrade encounters
MS-FUSION A.i.R., Footnote – Centre for Image and Text, Matrijaršija, Novi Obrt, Grad Gallery (KC Grad)
Exhibition DOWNSTREAM #01 at Grad Gallery (KC Grad, Belgrade; 3.–15.4.2023)
Participating Artists in order of boarding on MS-FUSION: Rainer Prohaska, Florian Sorgo, Carola Schmidt, Hanna Priemetzhofer, Christina Helena Romirer, Anita Fuchs, Kerstin Reyer, Sabrina Rosina, Kilian Jörg
Exhibition supported by the DANUBE SMALL PROJECT FUND (www.danubeculture.eu), Austrian Cultural Forum Belgrade, Goethe-Institute Belgrade, the Provinces of Lower Austria / Styria / Upper Austria, Federal Ministry Republic of Austria, Upper Austria Landes-Kultur GmbH, RD Foundation Vienna.
The Archive of Floating Things is a publication with several parts:
- A written list of things (plot on 80g/m² paper; 15 x 132 cm)
- A visual stream of things (plot on 80g/m² paper; 9 x 262 cm)
- Two attempts of categorisation (digital print on 300g/m² paper)
- A combination of thoughts and sentences with the Archive of Floating Things (riso print on 70g/m² paper; 9 x 13,8 cm; Printed with Matrijaršija / Novi Obrt)
- A selection of floating things (installation during the exhibition DOWNSTREAM #01 in Grad Gallery, Belgrade; 3rd–5th April 2023)
Printed in Belgrade, March 2023 (Version 1)
Used Fonts: Akkurat (Laurenz Brunner), GT Sectra (Grilli Type)
Photos of the exhibition DOWNSTREAM #01 by:
Lidija Antonović and Vladimir Opsenica.
Photos of the publication (on darkgrey background):
Hanna Priemetzhofer
(also see credits in captions)
Disclaimer: This work was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.
Insights into Project Phase I: Research & Collecting
Travelling on board of MS-FUSION.