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 About 'Planet Alsen'

'Planet Alsen' used to be a cement factory in Germany, in the city Itzehoe which is near Hamburg. The factory was closed many years ago, and the deserted place gradually became a 'playground' for graffiti (and other) artists.

The factory area is huge. It includes scattered around many unique in shape buildings, some are decaying, some are intentionally destroyed. Graffiti art colourful design are painted everywhere and are being changed literally overnight, and almost every night.

At the same time green plants cover whatever they can.

All in all, nowadays the place has become a unique man-made nature reserve, which is kept by the authorities as an art location, happenings and creative activities.

click to enlarge

About the Project:

Phase 1: The Light

The start was a making of a light installation (part of my Lighting Design studies), which I constructed in one of the buildings in the place. As a process, I created a sequence of slow changing lighting, rhythmic and  vivid, and at the same time shadowing and atmospheric.

Phase 2: The Multimedia Concept

While spending a week on the planet location, I was fortunate (extremely, so I feel) to witness a live destruction process of one of the buildings. I could not miss the moment's opportunity - and had it on video. On another late afternoon I 'caught' two graffiti artists practicing on a hidden wall in a hidden corner. This, too, I managed to video shoot, trying to capture emotional expressions by the two.

It took me a small while to realize all these three aspects actually represent the special forces which are of the essence of this Place: Destruction (of the buildings, of the old place, of the past), Growth (of plants and graffiti art) and Balancing element: in this case the Light that we use- as a human artificial substance to neutralize our surrounding. This three actually are a cosmic triad force as well, which is another topic.

Here in Planet Alsen these three forces exist all the time in an extreme way which is not so frequent to the modern city eye. I thought that by taking these three and present them all at the same time- would make this multi process much clearer and sharper, and would bring light to this process and idea. This was ment to be done in the annual art gathering in the place- .

From here to the making of a set of three films the way was short. They were planned to be screened at the same time, continiously at three surrounding corner of the gathering location.

As part of the process, I created an edited multi track soundtrack based on the music of KaftWerk- which I felt could represent very well the time, location and atmosphere of the decaying, yet still existing place. Due to lack of broadcasting rights- I refrain from uploading these films into the internet yet. I hope this will change.

Phase 3: The Collague Art Work

While wishing to sketch and describe a little of the project idea and of the essence of this place- I felt that the only way to do so - would be to create a collague of the various aspects of the place altogether: The structured buildings, the hidden spots, shapes and corners, and of the involved ongoing processes and forces.

This is the result: an art poster, here presented as a spread aspects picture.

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