The Postpetrolism Manifesto speech encompasses three parts – an overview of the contexts of wealth distribution and climate change; key moments in the exploitation of fossil fuels and their accompanying economic models; and the manifesto itself, rooted in an appeal to technology, and especially to art, to trigger pioneering visions and to «seek new opportunities for extravagant consumption». In the words of geoscientist Kenneth S. Deffeyes, the manifesto insists that, «today we should take a short pause and be thankful for the years 1901 to 2005, when oil and natural gas in abundance enabled great changes in our society. But now the time has arrived to face a new reality».
At the opening of the United Alternative Energies exhibition a performance took place in the form of a speech delivered by actor Thue Ersted Rasmussen, the proclamation of a manifesto «in order to open a new chapter in the history of art – art in the age after mineral oil». This new version of the declaration restated the speech delivered by actor Jesko Stubbe at an outdoor event which Hemauer/Keller organised for the Kunsthof Zürich art space on 27 April 2006. After the speech several postpetrolistic actions took place during festivities, including the demonstration of solar-powered musical instruments. A plaque marks the launch of the manifesto in Aarhus and the transition from one energy era to another beyond petroleum.
Text by Latitudes (Max Andrews & Mariana Cánepa Luna), curators
Performance and exhibition (speech approx. 25 min.)
28. 4. – 5.5.2006 Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, United KingdomExhibitions
2020: TLH Valais
2012: Cubitt Gallery London
2011: Kunsthalle Aarhus
2010: Schwedisches Institut Berlin
2009: Museum für Gestaltung Zürich
2006: Kunsthof Zürich