
action as communication
Knotunknot is an interactive public event that uses simple physical motion as an instrument of communication, allowing participants from diverse communities to exchange on questions of belonging, nation, culture and place.

where we stand
Participant, Knotunknot. Hellersdorf, Germany.
visual translation
During the events, a real-time spatial translation of the conversations also takes place. In a process that I developed with Tomaso Carnetto, Director of the Academy of Visual Arts, Frankfurt, Germany, participants unknowingly leave traces of their physical gestures on the tables where they are seated during discussions, producing a graphic translation of their dialogue in marks of ink on paper. Revealed after the dialogues, these complex images become objects of contemplation as the participants walk through them, reflecting on the nature of their connection during the event.
Student from the Academy of Visual Arts in Frankfurt adds the participant’s names from table 4 to the image created during the conversation.
If you are interested in bringing Knotunknot to your community, please be in touch.
knotunknot partners:
Goethe Institute
Bhf Bank Foundation, Frankfurt, Germany
The City Of Raunheim, Germany
The Academy For Visual Arts, Frankfurt, Germany
Kuringa, Berlin, Germany
The Integration Commissioners Of Berlin, Mitte And Berlin, Wedding, Germany
Tolerantes Eberswalde, Eberswalde, Germany
The Forsythe Company, Frankfurt, Germany
The Nassauische Heimstätte, Nh Projektstadt, Frankfurt, Germany
An urban and development planning organization, which was awarded the prestigious “Socially Integrative City” prize in 2009 and 2010, for its work in urban development.
credits
Knotunknot is an ongoing project, which to date has been realized in four Germany cities, engaging over 1200 people from diverse backgrounds. Knotunknot was initiated by Dana Caspersen and William Forsythe as part of the BHF Bank’s socially-oriented arts initiative, Frankfurt Positions, in 2011. Since 2012, the project has been further developed and directed by Dana Caspersen and produced in cooperation with numerous partners.
With the kind support of the Goethe Institute, the Freudenberg Foundation, the Community Foundation Barnim, the Academy of Visual Arts, Frankfurt, KURINGA, Berlin, Naussauischen Heimstätte – NH ProjektStadt, BHF Bank, City of Raunheim, the Forsythe Company, and private sponsors.
Photos: Marion Borriss | Ulrich Wessollek | Marion Borriss