For ‘Luxemburg 2007′ (Europe’s Capital of Culture 2007), iart and Holzer Kobler Architekturen conceived and realised ‘All We Need’, an exhibition about needs, resources and fairness.
The exhibition’s central theme was the manifold interrelationships between our needs and the ecological and social resources available worldwide. Ways to achieve greater fairness at a global level were explored in the process. In addition to jointly conceiving the exhibition with Holzer Kobler Architekturen and Plinio Bachmann, iart was responsible for selecting and procuring exhibits, for writing the exhibition texts, for the catalogue and for conceiving, planning and realising the exhibition media together with their content: sound, lighting, videos, multimedia installations and audio guide.

The Exhibition’s Venue

The exhibition ‘All We Need’ examined the multiple interconnections between our needs and the ecological and social resources available worldwide, exploring ways to achieve greater fairness in our globalised world. ‘All We Need’ was staged in the ‘Halle des Soufflantes’ on the brownfield Belval site, a blasting hall once used for steel-making and not normally open to the public. The building is 160 meters long, 70 meters wide and 28 meters high. ‘All We Need’ was spread over an area of 5000 m2. The hall had not been significantly altered in any way for the occasion so, in addition to seeing the exhibition, visitors were for the first time able to experience one of the most spectacular buildings in the greater Luxembourg area in its original state.

The Exhibition’s Concept — Needs, Resources, Fairness

The exhibition’s concept was based on the ten human needs formulated by the Chilean economist Manfred Max-Neef: subsistence, protection, affection, participation, leisure, creation, understanding, identity, freedom and transcendence. These needs were expressed through imperatives in the exhibition, arranged in the following order: Relax, Survive, Choose, Love, Protect, Belong, Create, Understand, Dream and Stand Up.
We frequently use products to satisfy our needs, yet many of them are associated with stories of limited resources and unfair trade. In the exhibition these stories were told by the products themselves as well as by artworks, documentation and accompanying media (audio guide, open sound, multimedia installations, videos). In this way, the exhibition provided an insight into the opportunities for living a fulfilled life while taking account of global fairness.
Each exhibition section had its own particular staging, sound effects and exhibits. The spaces created by Holzer Kobler Architekturen and the sounds heard within them were intended to satisfy each individual need visually and aurally. Through the exhibits — products, artworks, films — the exhibition communicated stories and facts that the audio guide explored in greater depth.

The Exhibition Media — Text, Sound, Lighting, Video, Guide

Each exhibition area was introduced by a text that summarised the need in question. The sets designed by Holzer Kobler Architekturen provided impressive backdrops, the impact of which was heightened by sound and lighting. The videos, like the other exhibits, were selected on a thematic basis, fleshing out the backdrops, telling of the sometimes catastrophic consequences in which the satisfaction of our needs can result. A group of talking and singing fish was one of the main attractions among the multimedia installations. On 12 synchronised channels they reported in three different languages about the devastation of the seas, raised questions and gave tips about which fish was best to eat and its preparation.

The Catalogue

With in-depth essays and a comprehensive artistic and philosophical collage of images and texts relating to the individual needs, the exhibition catalogue ‘All We Need’ documents the exhibition and also further explores its individual themes.

Project description for download

All We Need — An Exhibition on Needs, Resources and Fairness
Webpage ‘All We Need’
Temporary exhibition, Duration: 21/4/2007 — 28/10/2007

Customer
Luxemburg Capital of Culture 2007

Services iart
Concept, coordination and organisation of exhibition
Concept and production of content
Concept and editing of catalogue
Concept and planning of exhibition media

Media and Content
Surround sound, lighting, videos, multimedia installations, audio guide
Exhibits: products, works of art, films
Productions: audio, video, sound, texts

Project Partners
Holzer Kobler Architekturen, Concept und design
Plinio Bachmann, Concept, content and curating
Emanuel Tschumi, Graphic design for exhibition and catalogue
Maximum Bricolage, Installation of exhibits
tegoro solutions ag, Realisation and installation of media
Heller Enterprises, Controlling

Project Duration
1,5 years

Exhibition Area
5000 m2

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The exhibition space sized 5000 m2. It was situated in an old blaster hall of the iron industry from 1910.

Relax: The effect of mass tourism on the environment and the social situation of people.

Survive: Climate change and change of living.

Love: Roses and diamonds serve as tokens of love. But which working conditions and routes of transport do we accept to be able to enjoy them?

Create: Electronic waste is transported to the south and deconstructed whilst endangering the workers.

Dream: Future utopias and visions which endanger our planet.

Stand up: How long will the earth remain if we continue living the life we are used to today? How can we save some of the resources?

The catalogue ‘All We Need’ shows the exhibition through photographs and texts and gives further insight into the complex topics.

Publisher: Lars Müller Publishers, Design: Emanuel Tschumi, Ed.: Holzer Kobler Architekturen and iart interactive ag.

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