City Land River

The exhibition “Stadt Land Fluss” opens up new perspectives on the multifaceted relationships between us humans and nature in the city. Curators Sarah Dorkenwald and Karianne Fogelberg have brought together selected contemporary works from the fields of design, art and architecture that explore various forms of coexistence, weaving them together into a kaleidoscopic cosmos in the Rathausgalerie.

‘Stadt Land Fluss’ invites us to reflect on our ambivalent and ever-changing relationships with nature. In a world largely shaped by the assumption that nature is an inexhaustible resource, Sarah Dorkenwald and Karianne Fogelberg call for a shift in perspective. Here, nature is not viewed as a passive backdrop, but as an active force in our urban environment; and city, countryside and river are not seen as separate entities, but as closely interwoven, shared living spaces.

The works on display create discursive and sensory connections between us and our environment. They address current issues and encourage us to reflect on conflicts of interest and power structures, or to seek solutions for shaping a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone in our city.

In their concept, the curators incorporate the Rathausgalerie, drawing on its former use as a cashier’s office for transactions between the city and its citizens. In the very place where payments used to be made to the city, they invite visitors to engage playfully with the question ‘What is nature worth to me?’ through a participatory format.

On a map of Munich’s old town, staged in the space like a giant game board, participants can use game pieces to negotiate which changes are necessary to create, for example, more green spaces or drinking fountains in the city – even if that means doing without other things. In doing so, they learn about the costs and benefits associated with different land uses, and how these affect the quality of life in the city.

In a playful way, this opens up the opportunity to explore the question of how we want to use public space – a question that is more relevant than ever in the age of climate change.

All the positions and projects featured in the exhibition:
Animal Fiction; Barfly – Drinks for Insects; Chirpfood; Cooking Sections; Judith Egger; Verena Hägler und Nicola Reiter; Ute Heim; Adrien Missika; Office for Micro Climate Cultivation; Opposite Office; Kat Petroschkat; Kat Petroschkat und Susanne Schmitt; Raumlabor; Sinus Tweets; Studio Animal-Aided Design; Studio Ossidiana; The Process of Breaking Free; UnDesignUnit