Our Silk Road

Silvan Hagenbrock und Ivan Pantelić

The development strategy New Silk Road is the manifestation of China’s economic rise. Silvan Hagenbrock and Ivan Pantelić were reframing and challenging the existing narrative(s) in the frame of their project Our Silk Road. Why? To create a counterpart – an unofficial narrative focusing on what seems to be lacking in the current official narrative(s) of the Chinese government.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aka New Silk Road is a development strategy based on connecting infrastructure corridors launched by the government of the People’s Republic of China. In 2013 president XI Jinping announced the BRI aiming to revive the old Silk Road. With the BRI, China is investing 900 billion USD in infrastructure projects which combine the „Silk Road Economic Belt“ and the „21st Century Maritime Silk Road“.

The project Our Silk Road reframes, challenges and appropriates existing narrative(s) describing the phenomenon of the New Silk Road, such as communicated by various media and in official discourses. By this means, it contributes to the comprehension of the New Silk Road by the non-expert community. Based on a range of objectives, the overall aim of the project is to create a counterpart – an unofficial narrative focusing on what seems to be lacking in the current official narrative(s).

The main objectives in the framework of the project included:

A remapping and proclaiming of Our Silk Road through conceptual artistic strategy.

Changing use(s) of the Silk Road: Activating human potential and fostering cultural exchange along the newly proclaimed Our Silk Road established through remapping.

Contribution to the understanding of the New Silk Road through unravelling idiosyncrasies around this phenomenon.

Challenging official narrations by opposing their core components.

Knowledge production: Generating new knowledge and imagery with regard to the New Silk Road.

Fostering non-traditional exchange and creating networks.

Silvan Hagenbrock

 

Time
January 2019
Location
China
Team
Silvan Hagenbrock und Ivan Pantelić