50 Parallel Nord
Kulturhalle Lohr, Germany
"50 Parallel Nord" is a community art project that was created with the participation of eleven young asylum seekers in the town of Lohr am Main, Bavaria, Germany. The teenagers were temporarily living in the school building where Steger was a teacher twenty years ago. They created animation sequences during three weekend workshops. Using virtual architecture, animated re-enactments and visualizations, an experimental video investigates geographical and cultural migration as well as the role of pedagogy in shaping identity beyond national or regional borders.

They also published a book of conversations about migration which was sold to raise money for a legal aid fund for young asylum seekers in Germany. The project was presented to the public in the format of an intercultural celebration that featured live music, food and a dance party.

The project was created in collaboration with several non-profits (Lebenshilfe Main-Spessart – the organization who hosted the youths, Helferkreis Asyl – a local volunteer group, Jugendzentrum Lohr – a local youth centre, SpessArt – a local artist-run organzitan, and the Municipality of Lohr a. Main). It was generously funded through the Sparkasse Foundation for International Cooperation, Lion’s Club Main-Spessart, Kulturamt der Stadt Lohr a. Main, as well as a Professional Development Grant from the California College of the Arts.
Idea and Realisation: Christoph Steger, developed in Workshops with unaccompanied young refugees
Supported by: Arbeitskreis Asyl, Stadt Lohr, Jugendzentrum Lohr


VIDEO EXCERPT

TV DOCUMENTATION


©2024Christoph Steger