Eurokon 1, Symposium for interactive recycling, Zurich, 1995

How it happened:

After my epic trip to the Czech Republic , I inquired with the Civil Engineering Office of the city of Zürich to see if they might have another underpass to be painted. They replied that in the meantime most underpasses were becoming defunct. It was then that I learned of a giant passage under the public square Escher-Wyss-Platz, which had been closed for years. I sensed a perfect location for a large inhabited sculpture and rented the tunnels from the Civil Engineering Department for three weeks in order to organize a smallish exhibition. My real intention was simple: I invited international artists from various squats to build installations out of scrap and junk, where evening events from theater to techno nights could take place. During the events we endeavored to spring the audience from its default passive observer role. Thus, on the final night we featured a “naked bar” alongside the DIY workshops and open stage, enticing a bevvy of visitors to divest themselves of attire and to become an active component of the show.

In spite of our meager budget the festival became the talk of the town. The weekend concerts attracted thousands of visitors who danced into the early morning and lounged in sculptures made from scrap.

Participant artists :

Alexandr Glistrin (RUS), Anja Kleidt (D), Anne Bennike (DK), Antonio Pate (CH), Dimitry Bulnygin (RUS), Edith Oberholz (CH), Eva von Wartburg (CH), Felix Maspoli (CH), Grex Portmann (CH), Guido Vanderbuilt (NL), Ingo Giezendanner (CH), Isa Karpf (CH), Johann Vestre (NOR), Lennie Lee (UK), Lukas Keller (CH), Marcel Kühne (CH), Michael Fieling (D), Michael Schmacke (D), Mike Tucker (UK), Oleg Elovoi (RUS), Patrick Blöchlinger (CH), Petra Wild (CH), Sabine Hauser (CH), Slava Mizin (RUS), Stine Brinlow (DK), Theresa Pereira (P), Piombo al tempo (I), Dottir (DK), Novogo Fronta (RUS), Destroy after use (NL), Seelenlos &Ärger (CH), Crawler (CH), Mona Lisa Overdrive (CH), Hylsen (CH), Vendetta (CH), Scum of Toytown (UK), Finger (CH), The Molecules (USA), Wemean (CH), Der Kleine Hirnfick (CH), Charles Gayle (USA), Fake Masters (D), Uncle Super Sam (D), Katrin Rothe (D), Gleis 2 (CH), Boni&Bubi (CH), Unit Möbius (NL), Paul Evans (UK), Luke Slater (UK), Styro2000 (CH), DJ Migros (CH), Kotai (D), Mo (D)

LOCATION
Escher-Wyss Platz, 8005-Zürich

BUILDING TYPE
Pedestrian underpass

SIZE
800 m²

PROMOTION
Pro Helvetia, Mayor’s Department of the City of Zurich, Waste disposal service of the city of Zürich (AWZ)

INFRASTRUCTURE
4 bars, snack bar, disco, concert stage, theater, cinema, inhabited sculpture, naked bar

EVENTS
Free services: workshops

CONCEPT AND ORGANISATION
Mark Divo, Maja Thommen, Phillip Anz, Stefan Thommen, Mikki B, DJ Jesse,
Mara and Markus Züst, Eva von Wartburg, Teresa Periera, Patrik Blöchlinger, Petra Wild, Hanspeter Gahlinger, Kati Bitzer

GRAPHIC DESIGN
Kido, Mark Divo, Pastor Leumund