Dear Mr. Hong,
You are kindly invited to take part in our programme of art projects in Dessau in the summer of 2007.

Dessau is a town, located some 100 kms south of Berlin, in a former highly-developed industrial area. Following the political changes in 1989 there has been a rapid economic turndown in this part of East Germany, formerly the German Democratic Republic, such as the closure of large factories, causing widespread unemployment. Many people have left for western Germany. Now Dessau is one of the so called "Shrinking Cities" in the East, with a population now of about 77.000 (1989 about 100.000). Thats why Dessau now will join with its neighbouring town Rosslau to create Dessau-Rosslau.

¢¥My name is Johanna Bartl and I am an artist, who has been living in Dessau since 1995. For 12 years I have been organising an annual programme of art projects, especially in public spaces. My intention is to take artists out of their studios, and art out of commerce, and bring art in contact to the man on the street, in the context of life, history and nature. So we arranged artwork in abandoned shops, in windows of houses, on street lamps, artists videos on local TV, projection slides at the cinema ? places where people in Dessau do not expect to see work of contemporary artists. Korean artist Yongik Kim placed his unique art book, which he created for Dessau in 2005, in? the reading room of the local library.

The art project is supported by KIEZ, a cultural centre, founded in 1989 by an association of young people together with some architects and artists. Their aim was to develop social and cultural life together with the local population. This was in reaction to the political and economic changes.The 2007 programme receives financial support from the Saxony-Anhalt Ministery of Culture, from the proceeds of Lotto Sachsen-Anhalt (the lottery), and Dessau town council.

In 2007 and 2008 my programme is related to the place and the theme "Georgium". The Georgium is an extensive park, located between the town and the river Elbe. This area is part of the "Dessau-Woerlitz Garden Realm" ? recognised world-wide as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. The park also belongs to a UNESCO protected nature area: part of The Middle Elbe Riverside Biosphere Reservation.

Design of the park began around 1780, during the reign of Prince Franz of Anhalt-Dessau. He encouraged culture, commerce, agricultural production and also modern pedagogical ideas of enlightenment, which influenced Middle Europe for the following two centuries.
The reforming ideas combined architecture, landscape and nature in harmony. In many locations in the region? this is still experienced today, especially in the Georgium. Opposite the Baroque garden, the Georgium was not designed geometrically. In the Georgium the trees, the bushes and the water courses were used to create impressions of natural power and beauty, as experienced when walking on the winding paths. On the way the walker views sculptures, small outhouses and benches to rest on, named in honour on current and past friends. The above were often designed from memory of palaces, temples and statues in Italy. Prince Franz, his brother Georg and his architect-friend Friedrich Wilhelm von Erdmannsdorf gathered experience on their journeys through England, the Netherlands, Italy, France and Switzerland.

First the park was seen as part of the open countryside, with special viewing points. With the beginning of the industrial area the town of Dessau grew, so that the Georgium Park became a part of the town. It is used like a public park: people use it to get from A to B on foot or by bike, go jogging, walk their dogs or meet friends. But the area of the park by the river Elbe still keeps the feeling of a wide open space and the power of the water even today.

You are invited along with six German artists, from Berlin, Hamburg, Halle and Magdeburg, to visit our region, the town of Dessau and the Georgium Park, to develop a picture of the area from your perspective and to create an artwork in relation to your experiences.
It may be possible to realise any genre of art, such as photography, video, drawing, writing/text. You could complete an artwork here this summer. Alternatively during your stay here you could conceive a piece of art here and realise it later. It is also possible for an arrangement outside in the park or inside - for example the Georgium Palace.
The Georgium Palace is located in the Georgium Park. The building is now the home of the Anhalt Historical Art Gallery, well known for its collection of 15th-18th Century German and Flemish Master Works. It would be interesting to see the old and new art juxtaposed together.

The 2007/2008 art programme is entitled: ORTE__REISEN__BILDER, in English: PLACES_JOURNEYS_PICTURES/IMAGES.

We look forward to meeting you in Dessau!

Yours sincerely
Johanna Bartl