SILENT SOLDIERS

At a time when global military buildup threatens to become the new normal,SILENT SOLDIERSturnsitsattention to another, often overlooked threat: the silent loss of biodiversity and the endangerment of our very means of survival.
In the edible forest garden “7000 Butterflies” in Dortmund, monumental insect sculptures are created from clay, charcoal, soil, deadwood, and natural fibers. As ephemeral habitats, they make visible the living beings that sustain our ecosystems and are, at the same time, among the most endangered species of our time. Wind, rain, and the elements transform the sculptures—until they eventually become part of the natural cycle themselves and, as humus, enable new life.

As a social sculpture,SILENT SOLDIERScombines art, ecology, and social participation. Sculpture, natural transformation, and photographic and drawn documentation create a public space for reflection on the beauty, vulnerability, and value of biological diversity.

At the Laboratorium, Künstler*innenhaus Dortmund
Sunderweg 1, 44147 Dortmund · Hours: Wed–Sun, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
August 22 – September 6 · Opening: August 22, 7 p.m.

Edible Forest Garden “7,000 Butterflies”
Kesselstraße 79, 44147 Dortmund (corner lot)
On view starting August 22—until the sculptures have returned to the natural cycle.
Every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Supported by the Dortmund Cultural Office – Visual Arts