Virtual Water
Aquarius Water Museum
Ottmar Hörl and his "Das große Hasenstück" (Nuremberg 2003) / Photo: RWW
RWW Rheinisch-Westfälische Wasserwerksgesellschaft is dedicating a multimedia museum to water, the Aquarius Water Museum in Mülheim an der Ruhr. The interactive exhibition inside a former water tower provides fascinating insights into scientific phenomena, the cultural and industrial history of water and the drinking water supply.
Water was a key factor in the Ruhr's industrial development. Today we want to know how we can use this valuable resource in an efficient and sustainable manner. The Aquarius Water Museum tries to answer these questions in the newly created "Virtual Water" section which will open in summer 2010 as part of the permanent exhibition.
Virtual Water describes just how much water is needed to create certain products - e.g. it takes 13 litres of water to grow a tomato and 140 litres for a cup of espresso. Germany is one of the world's largest importers of virtual water. While we preserve water at home, we export water scarcity to other countries.
Virtual water is a global issue that provides new impulses to the debate on the sustainable use of resources. Visitors will be able to experience the complex subject in a playful manner that lets them reflect on their personal water use, e.g. by seeing how much water is needed to produce many everyday goods.
The exhibition's opening in June 2010 will be accompanied by the installation of 300 multiple-works by Nuremberg conceptual artist Ottmar Hörl. They'll make reference to virtual water and transform the plaza in front of the Aquarius into a walk-on floor sculpture. Hörl is one of the world’s most renowned "multiple" artists whose spectacular past works include the placement of 7,000 green plastic replicas of Albrecht Dürer’s famous painting "Young Hare" on Nuremberg’s market square.
Opening June 10 2010
Tu - Sun 10:00 - 18:00
Aquarius Water Museum, Burgstr. 70, 45476 Mülheim an der Ruhr
Partner: RWE AG
You can find additional information at:
www.aquarius-wassermuseum.de
Related topic:
www.energiekulturruhr.de