In his design, for “it’s all Rheydt” Kolkata 2011 many elements of his signature work 'Haus u r' will be uniquely visible along with elements which are typically Kolkata. His work is visually very simple as he believes in “less is more” but the ideas that one conjures up while looking at it are very personal and individual.
In 2010, Gregor Schneider was in Kolkata and he was very inspired to create a work of art that would be an integral part of the Durga Pujo celebrations in his own special way. As a foreigner and a sensitive artist, he saw a mysterious and unexpected angle to the artistry of the pandal which housed the idols. In fact, he was prepared to “expect the unexpected” in Kolkata and this is the feeling he wants to convey with his design.
More importantly, he wants the design to be completely executed by local artisans using locally available materials so that the collaborative nature of the construction becomes apparent to all visitors. Once the Durga Pujo festival is over, parts of this ‘German pandal’ will be shipped to Germany and reconstructed for exhibition there.
The remarkable cooperation between Germany and India in the fields of politics, economy, science, culture and education achieved during the past decades will be intensified and new projects will be initiated. The fifteen-month long celebration of the Year of Germany in India highlights collaborative programmes and projects reflecting different facets of urban life and development such as mobility, architecture, energy planning, urban art and cultural infrastructure. Public spaces are essential in urban development and their importance for urban living will be highlighted through various projects that explore new areas within the cities and reach out to new target audiences.
