A smorgasbord of art: Ruhrtriennale 2013
The Ruhrtriennale festival showcases classical music, theater, visual arts, video, dance and more. DW presents a selection of striking visual experiences staged in the former industrial region-turned-cultural-playground.
Culture instead of coal
Spectacular venues are the region's trademark: The performance locations of the Ruhrtriennale's arts festival showcase the industrial relics of the Ruhr region, including UNESCO World Heritage site Zeche Zollverein in Essen, former ironworks Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, or former cast steel factory Jahrhunderthalle Bochum.
From steel to stage
Dating back to the 19th century, the imposing structure of the former "Bochum Association of Mining and Cast Steel" is now a festival hall and central venue for Ruhrtriennale performances.
'Delusion of the Fury'
With a rarely performed theatre piece, US composer Harry Partch dazzled guests in the Jahrhunderthalle with magical worlds of sound and exhilarating images.
'Nowhere and Everywhere'
That's the title of the installation done by US choreographer William Forsythe at the Museum Folkswang in Essen. Guests must navigate a grid of 400 swinging pendulums without touching them. Their evasive maneuvers thus become a spontaneous choreography.
'Situation Rooms'
In the turbine hall in Bochum, the spectators become the actors. An interactive video game from the theater group Rimini-Protokoll invites audience members - equipped with tablets and headphones - into the world of war and refugee misery.
'Founder's Things'
At the central power station in Duisburg, Heiner Goebbels staged a piano piece for five pianos - without pianists. Nevertheless, the room itself is full of photos and sound. The protagonists are light, noise and tones.
'Repealing the conflict'
The Halde Haniel in Bottrop was once a deposit point for the leftover stones separated from coal that had been mined from the ground. But for the arts festival, the hill is the venue for a contemporary dance performance by French choreographer Boris Charmatz. In "Levée des conflits," 24 dancers morph between chaos and order.
Machine hall Zollern
Despite its original function as a coal mining operation, Zeche Zollern in Dortmund was built in a lavish Art Nouveau style. With its unique acoustics, the machine hall offers the ideal setting for the ChorWerk Ruhr ensemble, performing works by John Tavener and Arvo Pärt.
Massive Attack
The British cult band holds its only performance in Germany this year at Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, the site of a former ironworks plant. The band will play against the backdrop of provocative political videos by British filmmaker Adam Curtis.
'Water Tower'
A spectacular installation awaits visitors at Essen's Zeche Zollverein - a 19-meter (62-foot) "tower" from the London-based artist's collective rAndom International. Visitors can venture inside the tower and view the world through the water walls.