Exhibition "Waterstories"

8 June to 16 June 2024 at the "House of City History" in Heusenstamm
Water is a precious resource that we must protect and preserve. It is vital for us humans, animals and plants. Unfortunately, however, water is not available in unlimited quantities.

Many regions around the world are struggling with water scarcity, which is leading to major challenges. Water plays a crucial role in life on Earth. In Germany, we are currently still fortunate to have sufficient access to water sources, be it from rivers, lakes or groundwater. However, even here in Hesse, groundwater inputs have been declining for decades, so this resource is not inexhaustible and we have to deal with it carefully.
What influence does climate change have on the availability of water here in Germany?
Climate change is changing the pattern of precipitation and this is leading to longer dry periods. This has already led to water shortages in some regions, and so we too have to deal with the situation of water scarcity and the associated question of effective measures to save water.

Water scarcity has far-reaching effects on the environment, agriculture and population. If there is a lack of water, plants, animals and ecosystems suffer. Agriculture needs sufficient water to grow crops and to feed people and animals. Water scarcity can lead to conflicts between the stakeholders, for example between agriculture and industry.
The consequences of climate change and questions about the water crisis are also addressed in the exhibition and interactive web documentary "wasserstories: our future–their reality" 
by Caroline Breidenbach – an artistic-critical perspective on the privatization of water.

Three multimedia stories provide alarming insights into the past and future of our water. 
This is about the universal question: Who owns the water?

The »wasserstories« are in the realm of design fiction: true events from Bolivia, South Africa and Portugal are mirrored on German locations and fictionally told in our near future. Reality is intertwined with fiction and together they create unsettling scenarios.

The exhibition aims to raise awareness and inform. The project deliberately plays with the feeling of one's own concern and wants to generate more empathy for the topic and for people who have long had to fight for water.
However, water is not only a scarce resource for life, but also a source of joy. Water has always had an attractive power on people: we can refresh ourselves in it, swim or simply enjoy its calming effect.  It is a place of recreation, revitalization and also fun.

In the joint project of the Naturengel with the local history society, the city of Heusenstamm and the citizens' foundation, we want to bring together the many different perspectives on WATER. In cooperation with Caroline Breidenbach, Berlin, the Heusenstamm Artists' Association, the Initiative Neun malt as well as with the Adolf-Reichwein-Schule, the Adolf-Reichwein-Gymnasium, the Otto-Hahn-Schule and the twin towns Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, France, Tonbridge and Malling, Great Britain ,Malle, Belgien and Hartley-Witney In addition to the exhibition "wasserstories", an exciting exhibition on the topic of "WATER" is being created:

The exhibition in combination with the »wasserstories« will take place from June 8 to June 16, 2024:

House of City History
Access via corner alley
63150 Heusenstamm

Opening hours (subject to change at this time):

Saturdays and Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
as well as on Wednesday 12.06.24 and Friday 14.06.24 in the afternoon
for school classes / groups on request also in the morning