2016 German Art Show - Andreas Slominski and Global Fliegenschmidt
Since our industry began during World War II in the Navy Shipyards in California, portable restrooms have now become commonplace and are found in a variety of locations – all to serve the sanitation needs of the public and to protect the environment.
These locations include:
Construction Jobs …
Home Building Sites …
Road Projects …
Agricultural Areas …
Mining Operations …
Fairs …
Festivals …
Concerts …
Weddings …
Sporting Events – including the Olympics.
… and a variety of other similar locations.
QUESTION: Where is the one place that you would never expect to find portable restrooms and related products?
ANSWER:As the focus of an art exhibition by a renowned artist for public display!
WELCOME TO THE “DAS U DES TURHUTERS” EXHIBITION HELD FROM MAY 14th to AUGUST 21st, 2016 IN HAMBURG, GERMANY!
Our industry was the focus of Andreas Slominski, highly-respected modern artist, at this well-attended and unique event. Andreas is known for transforming common objects into colorful, sculptural arrangements intended to allow the audience to reflect upon these pieces in a new light.
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Andreas Slominski has shared his highly acclaimed works throughout the world and has received numerous awards over the years. Among these honors are:
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1991 Karl Stroher Prize
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1994 Art Prize of the Adolf Luther Foundation
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1996 Sprengel Prize of Lower Saxony
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1998 Edwin Scharff Prize
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2004 Acchen Art Prize
The theme of this amazing exbibit was to present portable restrooms as pieces of art. Common items that – when displayed with Slominski’s artisitic talent – lead people to experience new thoughts and visions that are far beyond these plastic units. As you will soon experience for yourself, these are not portable restrooms, walls, sinks, tanks, holding tanks, or vacuum hoses, they take you to other objects, places, and experiences.
Andreas Slominski’s “Das U Des Turhuters” (“The O of the Doorkeeper”) Exhibit was held at the famous and historic Deichtorhallen in Hamburg, Germany. Built between 1911 and 1914, this 60,000 square foot (5,600 square meter) facility was home to this unique exhibit which occupied over two-thirds of this massive space (40,000 square feet or 3,800 square meters).
And now as the doors open, ENJOY THE SHOW!
Over 200 portable restrooms, parts, and associated equipment were used in this exhibit.
The ceiling in the Main Exhibit Hall reminds one of a large fan or a dome in a modern building or one’s own personal thoughts.
The “Red Wall” was a popular attraction at the end of the large exhibit hall.
Here is a view from the “Red Wall” looking back to the entrance of the Main Hall.
The microscope on display sends an important message to attendees: examine everything and use the “power of the atomic” to discover new ideas and images in often overlooked items.
“BIG BEN” was a popular exhibit. Like the internationally famous clock in London, this unit rotated in a complete circle and as it did, various components opened and closed as gravity dictated.
Roofs, tanks, and walls are seen in unique and thought-provoking positions.
“12,000 Liter.” These twelve 1,000 liter (265 gallon) holding tanks were assembled to create another object of intrigue – A tower? An altar? A fort? Other?
A doll supported by a roll of toilet paper and a crocheted covering of a tower of toilet paper.
New spaces created by familiar items. Use the “microscope approach” and observe each area closely.
Corridors and aisleways were created for the attendee to explore and to examine.
Looking at something commonplace and seeing beyond the obvious.
More creativity and wonder from familiar items in our industry.
This massive exhibit extended outside the Deichtorhallen Building.
As is the case in our industry, when this magnificent show ended, the portable restroom units were picked up and then redelivered to construction sites and special events!
WHO PROVIDED ALL OF THIS EQUIPMENT?
Longtime industry leader, Global Fliegenschmidt, provided the roughly 200 units and other equipment needed for the “Das U Des Turhuters” exposition.
Founded by Peter Fliegenschmidt in 1982, Global has a long and successful history. With in-house manufacturing of portable restrooms and related equipment, Global is an international leader in our industry with a presence on five continents. With its headquarters in Coswig, Global was the logical choice to provide this equipment to Andreas Slominski.
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Peter Fliegenschmidt Global Founder and CEO
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MAY 2015 PSAI BOARD TRIP TO VISIT GLOBAL
A longtime PSAI Member, I had the opportunity to see Peter and to meet his team in 2015 in Coswig as part of a PSAI Board Trip Across Germany. The facility was state-of-the-art and the employees were very kind and highly motivated. Who knew that several months later they would be involved in such a historic event for our industry?
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Jorgo Meyhofer Global Managing Director |
Jorgo began his career with the company in 2012 and was very involved in this large equipment order and delivery in 2016. He summarizes this experience as “one of those times where everyday business unexpectedly intersected with the world of contemporary art.”
Jorgo continues:
“At the time, our entire company decided to visit the exhibition together. For many of our team members – especially those working daily on the production machines – it felt somewhat surreal to see our familiar products displayed in such an intentional, curated, and almost ceremonial manner. What is normally approached as a highly functional industrial product suddenly became part of a larger artistic narrative. It sparked plenty of conversations among our employees about design, perception, and the sometimes suprising ways in which everyday objects can be reinterpreted.
A particularly memorable detail was the fact that several of the pieces were sold after the exhibition. Some urinals that cost only a few euros in manufacturing were bought by art collectors for several hundred euros. It’s a great example of how context and artistic framing can transform perception – and value. The remaining units were returned to us as usual once the exhibition concluded.”
His comments mirror several of the intentions and objectives that Andreas Smolinski had when he created this intriguing exhibition.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This “one-of-a-kind” art exhibition in 2016 is yet another example of the popularity and the prevalence of portable sanitation throughout the world. As an industry, we thank Andreas Smolinski – with help from Global Fliegenschmidt – for creating this memorable event.