The Gesellschaft der Amateur Ornithologen (Society of Amateur Ornithologists) by Mark Dion was one of over 20 exhibits of Emscherkunst 2016. Descriptions and further information about the artwork could be found on orange lacquered pillars in front of each sculpture. (Photo: Roland Baege)
With about 450.000 visitors Emscherkunst is one of the biggest events of arts and culture in the Ruhr Area. For the third time already the triennial exhibition features contemporary art in city and nature and transforms the course of the renaturated Emscher into a gallery. Visitors can discover works by Ai Weiwei, Tobias Zielony, Benjamin Bergmann or Atelier Le Balto along the roundabout 50 kilometers long art route from Holzwickede to Herne via Dortmund – preferably by bike.
Using the slogan Entdecke die Kunst (Discover the Art) Emscherkunst invites to rediscover the now mostly recultivated river Emscher through art. Combined with morse code the slogan is the leitmotiv through all media. Hiding the word “Kunst“ (art) in the code the slogan is translated into a visual language. The simple graphic elements—rectangles and circles—overlay typography and are filled with cutouts of subjacent images of Emscherkunst exhibits. You can discover art by translating the morse code, decipher the overlayed typography and putting together the images.
A simple but strong typography, combining Avenir and GT Haptik, completes the Emscherkunst corporate design.
Besides the eye-catching orange signage the Art and Bike Guide is the main tool to discover the Emscherkunst route. The spiral bounded book contains a detailed roadmap of the 50 kilometers art route as well as general information about Emscherkunst and in-depth descriptions of its exhibits.
The map part of the book is 90° turned. This supports the mostly horizontal roadmaps and structures the book into different parts.
Hidden in a hazelnut grove between an autobahn bridge and the river Emscher the exhibit by atelier le balto is called Kunstpause (dramatic pause). A perfect place to rest while exploring Emscherkunst by bike. (Photo: Roland Baege)
Curator of the Emscherkunst: Florian Matzner
Co-Curators of the Emscherkunst: Katja Aßmann, Simone Timmerhaus
Marketing of the Emscherkunst: Leonie Böhmer
Art Direction and Layout / Corporate Design: KoeperHerfurth (Fabian Köper, Jonas Herfurth, Michelle Flunger, Elena Meyer)
Corporate Design basic idea: Alexander Bönninger and Prof. Ralf de Jong, Folkwang University of the Arts
Photographic documantation of Emscherkunst 2016: Roman Mensing, Thorsten Arendt, Haiko Hebig
Website programming: crossconcept
Co-Curators of the Emscherkunst: Katja Aßmann, Simone Timmerhaus
Marketing of the Emscherkunst: Leonie Böhmer
Art Direction and Layout / Corporate Design: KoeperHerfurth (Fabian Köper, Jonas Herfurth, Michelle Flunger, Elena Meyer)
Corporate Design basic idea: Alexander Bönninger and Prof. Ralf de Jong, Folkwang University of the Arts
Photographic documantation of Emscherkunst 2016: Roman Mensing, Thorsten Arendt, Haiko Hebig
Website programming: crossconcept
Photographic documentation of the Corporate Design: Roland Baege for KoeperHerfurth
