Plattenwechsel by UTOPOLIS

text: Rosa Hauch · photos: Rosa Hauch

Plattenwechsel is the name of the Johannstadt project. It’s called that. The past tense is almost out of the question, because everything that has been created here on one’s own initiative, on a voluntary basis and with a great deal of passion should not dissolve into utopia, a non-place, as the ancient Greek teaches us.

Lorenz and Marcus from the improv theatre company Yes-oder-nie! joined the caravan this Friday and improvised a very funny tour of the city. During the Plattenwechsel project, they improvised several times with a total of around 40 people on personal, professional and even neighbourhood topics. “People inspire themselves with interest, passion and surprises. Something improvised emerges from being amazed,” is how the two describe their work, which always surprises itself.

Gerd Gottwald also accompanied the caravan with his handcart and newspaper. He has published seven neighbourhood newspapers in the Plattenwechsel cycle. The “line man” Gerd proudly distributes his line 7. “Many people like the newspaper. Some also wanted to write something. Unfortunately, it remained with the ‘could have'”. But he has definitely achieved one thing: the line is well known and even got its own advertising pillar at the end of the project. Thanks to the Internet, traditional analogue advertising has become cheap. From the line man’s point of view, food and drink are the best things to get people out of their loneliness. Food and drink and music.

And we are already at the next stop, where the Plattenfrauenchor invites everyone to join in and sing along. It is well known that bad people have no songs.

Using white, yellow and red clay flour, we finally paint all sorts of things on the paving slabs at the playground. The next rain takes the colours away again and project manager Anja becomes wistful: “When sound and art have reached the hearts, the project money has run out.” That’s why I’d like to take this opportunity to refer you to the federal project’s website. There are so many tools compiled here that nobody has to be bored and beautiful ideas don’t get lost again: Toolbox – Utopolis

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