Roadside Picnic

Deep inside a Berlin flak tower, memory becomes gravity, and concrete floats on threads of light...

A planet has separated from its solar system to explore the universe on its own. It’s a dark and lonely journey. At times, passing near other stars, it misses its siblings with whom it circled around their two parent suns. Together they floated through their galaxy, caught in each other’s embrace. Their chants and stories traveled with them on this merry-go-round; occasionally some snippets were flung off on their own little journey through the universe. A few of these utterances even caught up with the planet, digging into its memory and drawing blood, or flowers that blossomed into its solitary night.

In the otherworldly landscape of a World War 2 ruin in Berlin, inspired by the “Zone” in Andrei Tarkovsky's film “Stalker,” different laws of nature apply: concrete blocks hang from gossamer threads, water flows upward, memories and desires take shape. Visitors were invited to explore this extraordinary realm for themselves on a tour of the Humboldthain flak tower, which was transformed into a cosmic fragment. In collaboration with Berliner Unterwelten e.V., Seafoam Palace presented a narrative sound and light installation through one of Berlin's most impressive buildings – and led visitors into an intermediate zone of history, fantasy, and resonant contemplation.

Participating artists:

Alessandro Toffoli, Cassandra Downs, Christos Pathiakis, Eduardo Cunha, Jakob Fälling, John Law, Julia Solis, Kim Couchot, Lis Chere Thomas, Lo Rose, Luc, Marc LeFlour, Matt Rozensky, Michael Murton, Miigun, Persephone Hopper, Richmond Arquette, Susan Dundon, Thelma, Tom Kirsch, ZE