They are everywhere in public spaces - the ‘fire safety regulations’ to prepare for the worst-case scenario. But what about other cases, such as the climate catastrophe? How well prepared are we for what has already happened anyway?
Felix Brinkmann, co-ordinator of the doctoral programmes, asked himself these questions and based the exhibition on the objects that usually shape public spaces such as train stations (departure boards, fire safety regulations, fire extinguishers). He has now installed a ‘species extinction countdown’, climate protection regulations and ‘tyre extinguishers’ at Engelhofstation in Gmunden.
The species extinction countdown in the style of a ‘departure display’, which counts down the average time of 7 minutes until the next species becomes extinct, emphasises the urgency of the situation and reminds those waiting for the train to act quickly. Its spatial presence creates images that demonstrate the absurdity of waiting in the presence of this catastrophe; it makes it difficult to repress.
In addition to the fire safety elements, the pillars on the railway track now also feature signs for climate disasters and ‘Tyre Extinguishers’. These call for a step-by-step fight against the driving forces behind the destruction of the shared basis of life and provide tools for temporarily paralysing SUVs.
SUVs are symbolic and factual of livelihood destruction: they are the second largest cause of the global increase in carbon dioxide emissions over the last decade - more than shipping, aviation, heavy industry and even lorries. If SUVs were a country, it would be in 6th place in the ranking of the world’s most CO2-emitting countries.
Felix Brinkmann's climate protection elements call on station visitors to take action against the “weiter so” (‘keep it up’) that is still common practice, even in the face of the consequences of the global climate crisis that are now also being felt in Europe.
The signs are also printed as stickers in large numbers and are currently being placed in public spaces. (If you are interested, please contact Felix!) Perhaps you have already discovered one...?
The exhibition was realised as part of the Salzkammergut Capital of Culture as a group project under the direction of Hannes Zebedin at the University of Art and Design Linz, Department of Experimental Design, where Felix Brinkmann is studying. Under the title “so weit”, his work and that of two other artists will now help shape the station for several years.
