After months of preparation, 1000 GESTALTEN did the run-up performance sending an overwhelming image of creative protest to the world.
Hundreds of clay figures moved slowly and silently, seemingly unassailable through the streets of Hamburg. Representing people from all parts of society expressed their criticism of the G-20 summit in a two-hour choreography as an wake up call for to more humanity and self-responsibility.
With empty faces wrapped in a crusty shell of clay suits the figures are supposed to stand for a society that lost faith in solidarity, in which the individual only fights for his own advance.
Over the course of the performance they stripped off their gray costumes and emigrated symbolically from their rigid structures.
"We can not wait for change to come from the most powerful in the world, instead we must show us all politically and socially responsible ", as speakers of the collective 1000 GESTALTEN explain.
"We want to recall how identity-building compassion and common feel are to society. Our action is another sign that many people no longer want to accept the destructive effects of capitalism. What rescues us in the end, is not our account, but someone who hands us the hand ".
The collective actually succeeded in mobilizing a broad layers of civil society for the campaign: more than 1000 volunteers were involved in the process, and many of them participated for the first time in an art action. People from over 85 cities across Europe signed up as performers and helpers - Crowdfunding attracted more than 20,000 Euro donations.
