Marlene Helling

Anyone who thinks you can’t get a feel for life at sea on the site of a colliery will be proven wrong at ›Hafenfest‹. In her new research project, Bochum-based artist Marlene Helling explores communities within industrial culture. The starting point for her exploration of ports, logistics and infrastructure – as well as the rhythms of human labour interwoven with them – is shanties: traditional sailors’ songs that were sung primarily on sailing ships to ensure everyone worked in unison.

To mark the publication of the resulting book, ›Liederbuch: Shanties und Logistik‹, Marlene Helling, in collaboration with Marei Dierßen, Juli Grönefeld and Simon Vorgrimmler, brings a fresh sea breeze into the PACT foyer: As well as a performative reading and various hands-on activities such as tug-of-war and knocking down can towers, the audience at the ›Hafenfest‹ can look forward to a performance by the Bochum Shanty Choir. This event invites people to come together and sing well-known maritime work songs, as well as new interpretations of them.