Ulay: WaterFonie
Visualizing and Communicating Water Related Challenges
in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Exhibitions and Workshops in Ramallah and Jerusalem
Exhibition Ramallah: 30.9.2009 - 14.10.2009 | Goethe-Institut Ramallah
Exhibition Jerusalem: 17.10.2009 - 29.10.2009 | Willy Brandt Center Jerusalem
Exhibition and Workshops
Part 2: 17.10 – 29.10 at the Willy Brandt Center Jerusalem
Ongoing exhibition in Jerusalem until Sat, 31.10.09
About the Exhibition and Projects}
There is a growing worldwide awareness about the fundamental role that
water, especially fresh clean drinking water, plays for every human being
and community. Yet about 1.1 billion people worldwide do not have
access to safe drinking water. In recognition of this photographer and
performance artist Ulay (Frank Uwe Laysiepen) initiated Waterfonie in order
to raise awareness and foster focus on global water issues.
Related WaterFonie Events in Ramallah and Jerusalem
WaterFonie Project Part 1 in Ramallah at the
French-German Cultural Center until 14.10.2009
Thu, 8.10. 09 at 6pm:
Screening and Discussion
"Drying up Palestine" - A short film by Rima Essa
Lecture: Clemens Messerschmidt
French-German Cultural Center Ramallah
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Tue, 13.10 at 7pm
Talk with the Artits
and WaterFonie Workshop Presentations
with Ulay
French-German Cultural Center Ramallah
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Sat, 17.10.09
Opening of the Exhibition
at the Willy Brandt Center Jerusalem
Mon, 19.10.09
Workshop for artists at the Willy Brandt Center Jerusalem
Wed, 21.10.09
Red Lounge in the Willy Brandt Center Jerusalem:
"Interrupted Streams"
A documentary movie by Guy Davidi and Alexandre Goetschmann
Waterfonie is a continuation of Ulay’s work (watertoall) to visualize a range of aspects connected with drinking water, in which he is working with artists and the younger generation to discuss and communicate the vital importance of water.. Waterfonie is an interactive project that is a gateway for digital media productions that raise water awareness. The core of the project lies in the exclusive use of mobile media technology to generate artwork that communicates the vital role that water plays for people and their communities.
Read more: 
www.waterfonie.nl/blog
About Ulay
Ulay (geb. Uwe Laysiepen) is an important performance artist of the late 60s and the 70s.In all his works the central content is the relationship of body, space and society. During his live he traveled to different countries to collaborate with local artists, among others the Netherlands, Central Australia, China, Germany, United States.
From 1976 to 1989 he worked together with Marina Abramović. The performances of this period are the best known of Ulay's work.
In 1988, Ulay and Abramović decided to make a spiritual journey which would end their relationship. Each of them walked the Great Wall of China, starting from the two opposite ends and meeting in the middle. Ulay started from the Gobi Desert and Abramović from the Yellow Sea. After each of them walked 2500 km, they met in the middle and said "good-bye".
Due to his education as a photographer, he documented his performances constantly. One of his favorite media was and still is the Polaroid.
After 5 years as a professor for performance and media-art at the
Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe (1999–2004) in Germany he
moved back to Amsterdam.
Related websites: ulay.net
Programm and Related Events (#s)
The “WaterFonie” Project
“Water” remains one of the most contentious issues in Israel and Palestine. The current water crisis is not only a consequence of the water scarcity in the region, but also an inherent part of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. The unequal access to fresh water to the detriment of the Palestinian side makes it clear that we have to deal not only with hydrological challenges but above all with sociopolitical conditions and the impact of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the issue of water.
The project seeks new ways to place the issue on the public agenda and on the political map through artistic means. When we reflect on water policy we also have to understand the cultural values of water. Using the power of visual art and new media to visualize and communicate, the project develops creative approaches to reach out to a large public through exhibitions and media coverage in Israel and Palestine.
The mission of Waterfonie is the aesthetic use of mobile multimedia to present and communicate water and water issues through the artful eye as stimuli for awareness. In short Waterfonie is the exclusively use of mobile multimedia devices (SMS texting, sound recording and camera / film function) to get an artists interpretation on water issues and to raise awareness, involvement and discussion.
Making Art with Mobile Phones
Mobile Phone’s Multi-Media functions have a phenomenal potential in creating communication through digital media. . From the jungles of Borneo, to the deserts of Africa, to the urban settings of Amsterdam, the mobile phone has crossed many barriers and is one of the most accessible communication devices out there. It is an intimate and personal device that is compact in size, always carried on a person like a natural extension of the hand whose presence has become second nature. The media technology that is built into a mobile is also constantly improving; it has all the functions needed to communicate: spoken word, written text, sound-, photo-, and film recording.
The mobile also allows easy access and distribution of content, especially when linked to the internet. Another consideration is that the multimedia functions sound, film and photo are not hindered by any language barriers. It is therefore one of the most interesting new media devices that is readily available to a large section of the worlds population. It is an ideal tool to use to raise water awareness.
The project takes place in cooperation between the Willy Brandt Center Jerusalem, the Goethe-Institut Ramallah and the kind support of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Jerusalem.
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