The second big installation within the Open-Art „Project Kröpcke“ at the central place and landmark of the city of Hanover was a 3-months temporary installation, transforming the heart of the city into a green oasis with more than 100 mobile plants. Inside the historical clocktower, potatoes and herbs were grown and finally harvested at the end of the installation. On top, within a flowery plantation, birds settled and breeded offspring.
- integrated art installation, Hanover 1995
The whole place became a versatile meeting point for people relaxing and enjoying the new, green appearence of the place. Groups, playing french boule within the laurel alley or sanyassins with their shantibox, singing under the bamboo bushes brought a different culture and speed to the most commercial area in town. On the new city-lawn, on 11 tons of enclosed soil with grass and flowers, the people relaxed, slept, partied, discussed, played cards, read newspapers, hold barbecues and picnics.
Joys strategy behind this interactive installation was to create massive public desire for a non-commercial quality of life in public spaces. Politically, the transformation of this place wasn´t wanted. But when the installation was dismanteled after summer, not only the people missed the green spot and called for continuation of „grünplus“, also the media and the project sponsors liked it and thought about the place in a new way. Finally, the city agreed to install benches permanently and position some mobile plants every year. The Mövenpick Café even bought a huge palmtree for the place.
Something that was unthinkable before, had been achieved in public-private partnership through Integrated Art as an inspirational concept, a temporary artwork, a field study and the Social Sculpture of public opinion on this case.
For Joy, grünplus proves best the societal power of Integrated Art.
Art and related activities of Joy Lohmann 