Atelier LUMA’s latest project, Water hadde dudde da (What Do You Have There?), under the direction of artistic and research director Henriette Waal, is on show at the Ornamenta 2024 festival in Germany’s northern Black Forest. Developed specifically for Ornamenta, an event that uses contemporary art and design to highlight the connection between regional communities and their diverse industrial practices, the project is an embodiment of the festival’s ethos. Water hadde dudde da features five fridge sculptures forming an ‘honesty bar’ installed in a post-war modernist church restored by architect Egon Eiermann.
The installation, which involves local brewery Ketterer, introduces Knötti, a non-alcoholic drink made from local water, German hops and Japanese knotweed, turning an invasive species into a valuable resource. By addressing environmental challenges and reimagining social connections, Waal’s project re-establishes a vital relationship between the local drinking society and the evolving natural ecosystem. Through this innovative approach, Henriette Waal aims to balance the forest ecosystem while celebrating the region’s natural and cultural heritage.
Running from July to September, Ornamenta 2024 is dedicated to exploring contemporary cultural development through site-specific exhibitions, public installations and events, connecting visitors to the unique bioregion of the Northern Black Forest. For the full programme of the festival, visit the Ornamenta website.
