To mark Trump‘s birthday today, 14 June 2024, German artist Volker-Johannes Trieb has presented the former president and current US presidential candidate with a special gift: an installation of lifebuoys, an appeal to us all to defend democratic values. Slogans such as ‘Save yourself‘, ‘Gun control‘ or ‘Human rights‘ are emblazoned like a cry for help on 50 lifebuoys outside the US Consulate General in Hamburg. In addition, a large banner reading “AMERICA save yourself – don‘t vote for Trump” encourages passers-by to pause and reflect.
Image above: Volker-Johannes Trieb, Installation Save yourself – Rettungsringe für Trump vor dem US-Generalkonsulat in Hamburg, 14. Juni 2024 © Volker-Johannes Trieb, Foto: Hermann Pentermann Fotografie
“I just had to give him this birthday present. To him and to me. The US citizens can save themselves and us from Trump‘s re-election by voting for democracy on November 5th.“ Today is not only Donald Trump’s birthday, but also that of the artist. Birthday gift for Donald Trump The temporary intervention “Save yourself“ consists of 50 lifebuoys, corresponding to the number of US states. Each lifebuoy has a phrase printed on it that expresses social coexistence and democratic values that many see threatened by Trump. These include “Freedom of the press“, “Truthfulness“, “Environmental protection“, “Gun control“, “Rule of law“, “Interculturalism“, “Humanity“, “Freedom of religion“, “Welfare state“ and “Women‘s rights“. At the same time as the action in the public space, the artist handed a letter explaining the action to the Consulate General to be forwarded to former President Trump.
Around 1900, Hamburg was one of Europe‘s major emigration ports, with hundreds of thousands of people embarking on ships bound for America. Among them was Donald Trump‘s grandfather, who finally left Germany for New York in 1905.
Through his art, Trieb highlights injustice and violence and appeals to our responsibility. Through the direct encounter with his work, he wants to sensitize people and sharpen our willingness to act.
For more than 30 years, artist Volker-Johannes Trieb (*1966) has dedicated his artistic practice to humanitarian and social causes, and has left numerous traces of his commitment in his home town of Osnabrück. For the 375th anniversary of the Peace of Westphalia, the artist created a monumental sculpture of 1648 pitchforks in Osnabrück‘s town hall. He has also attracted international attention in recent years, for example with a protest against the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when he unloaded 6,500 sand-filled footballs in front of the FIFA headquarters in Zurich to draw attention to the dire situation of migrant workers in Qatar. For his remarkable art project “Not then, not now, not ever!“ to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, he invited 31 artists from countries that were militarily involved in the First World War. These international artists created wooden blocks made from logs from areas that were severely affected by the First World War, which have been exhibited in the German Bundestag in 2018, the European Parliament in Brussels in 2023 and in the Kunsthalle Rostock this spring. The artists include Monica Bonvicini, Tony Cragg, Anish Kapoor and Sean Scully
WHEN?
from Friday, 14. June 2024
WHERE?
US Consulate General in Hamburg
Kehrwieder 8
20457 Hamburg
