Sonderzug
video | images
Sonderzug consists of three proposals working with the visual and symbolical importance of trains in an urban context and the possibility of exploiting their temporary prominence as brief communicative moments, using them as a moving canvas.
Three Proposals for ephemeral memorials
Berlin train stations Grunewald and Westhafen used to serve the Nazis-Regime as stations from where jews and others were deported to ghettos and concentration camps.
These sites are now transformed into memorial sites (Gleis 17/Grunewald 1, Gleis 17/Grunewald 2)(Westhafen). Since they are located in the periphery of Berlin they are not very well visited and only the informed and interested will take the journey upon them.
Our aim is to create sensational moments in order to evoke a consciousness for the history of deportations and for the existing memorial sites.
1. Destinations
Rooftops of S-Bahn cars serve as canvas for a projection. Projecting from a well-frequented train bridge in Berlin's center, each car's roof seems to have typography attached to it: announcing destinations of the Nazi's deportation trains.
2. Ghosttrain
Ghosttrain is an installation that uses the usual lighting near train tracks in an urban area. Spotlights illuminate parts of the tracks, but from time to time a silhouette of a train can be seen moving on the rails, alluding to the deportation trains of the Nazis.
3. Next Stop
S-Bahn trains in Berlin have LED-displays to announce their destination and following stops. In a singular moment the displays on those trains either heading to Grunewald or those passing Westhafen announce names of those ghettos and concentration camps the Nazi's deportation trains were destined to go to.
Thanks:
Joachim Sauter, Jussi Ängeslevä
Awards:
2006 gold winner of :output 09