ACTIVE SLUMMING
Other creative means of making a statement have included “The Zero Litre Car”, a hollowed out car man-powered (by means of the feet) through holes in the bottom, which has been causing traffic jams across the city; camp sites set up in front of prominent buildings for months at a time, surly embarrassing those that frequent the buildings; and squatting homes of politicians and officials. Fuelling all of this is the internet, specifically a website that acts as a meeting point for all activities and events taking place.
A blackboard calls on students to join a protest here or there, swelling the numbers of demonstrators, campers, or squatters and a newspaper explaining the background and current happenings of the protest called “Perspektive” is available to download. Such “word of mouth” events make it difficult for the authorities to clamp down and more importantly, the non-violent, non-destructive, clever strategies have won over 80% of the Berlin citizen’s support.
Documenting the protests has been the Video AG, again an ever-changing group of students equipped with cameras and the intention of publicising the cause. Recently, a 24 hour squat took place and the entire demonstration was transmitted on Offener Kanal Berlin, a TV channel open to the public.
Though how policies might be affected by such protests remains to be seen, it has no doubt forced the government into an uncomfortable position and brought social politics to the front of people’s conscious. The fact that they have done so in such innovative, almost humorous ways says much about the creative process: presenting ideas and statements in an interestingly and accessibly.
Text: Kristy Kagari Sakai
Photos: Kristy Kagari Sakai