Worldwide Linkage established for Grafrather Wasservaten in Solingen's Art Project

ART-ECK gallery in Graefrath is set to host an extraordinary art exhibition titled "Graefrather Wasseradern," a collaborative project between artists Dirk Balke and Ulrika Eller-Rueter. The exhibition will officially open on October 4th at 6 PM, featuring an artist talk with both Dirk Balke and Ulrika Eller-Rueter.

Dirk Balke has transformed the gallery into a series of water worlds for his exhibition, "Floating." He has created captivating still lifes that delve into the essence of water, using glass jugs and sparkling water bottles filled from Graefrath's streams and other sources.

Ulrika Eller-Rueter, a Hamburg native who recently moved to Solingen in 2020, approaches water scientifically in her part of the exhibition. She makes the beauty of water drops visible through microscope recordings. One of her unique installations will illuminate the village well in the evening hours.

The project, inspired by Ulrika Eller-Rueter's dedication to the wet element, includes seven stations in the public space of Graefrath. Video recordings of the source of the Heiligen Born will be shown in front of the Catholic church's portal in the evening hours.

A multimedia light and sound performance, featuring singing, organ music, percussion, and dance, will take place on October 12th at 6 PM in the Catholic Church of Graefrath. The project culminates with a closing event on October 13th at 11 AM at ART-ECK.

The "Graefrather Wasseradern" project also includes the unveiling of Dirk Balke's sculpture of Actaeon on the island in the swan pond in Graefrath. Balke's favourite hero appears in his paintings as an observing wooden figure.

In addition to the art events, the exhibition will feature lectures on various topics related to water. Olaf Link, an author, will give a lecture on "Reflections on water from (local) historical, philosophical, and literary perspectives" on October 8th at 7:30 PM. Jan Boomers, director of the Biological Station Mittlere Wupper, will give a lecture on "The wealth of water in the Bergisches Land region over time" on October 10th at 7:30 PM.

The idea for the "Graefrather Wasseradern" project originated from a conversation between Ulrika Eller-Rueter and Dirk Balke during a lantern festival. This collaborative art project promises to be an immersive and thought-provoking exploration of water in its many forms. Don't miss out on this unique exhibition!

Worldwide Linkage established for Grafrather Wasservaten in Solingen's Art Project