Bridge Performances

Bridge-Performances (in short)

Since 2007, I work with bridges in my work as an ongoing theme.
To me, the bridge stands as a metaphor symbolizing connection, movement, and transition. 

Bridge-Performances  are socially-oriented performances—to build bridges between myself and the rest of humanity. 

Bridge-Performances are the makings of photographs of me by tourists on bridges. So far I did 76 Bridge-Performances in 16 countries. And I want to continue do them all over the world. 

The action in itself is simple: I ask people to take a picture of me with the bridge in the background. In a gesture of trust I give them my camera and stand in front of the bridge.

Kim Engelen, Bridges-Performances, Lal Qila (Red Fort) Red Fort Bridge, No.1, Agra, India, 2008

Bridge-Performance No.1:
Lal Qila, Fort Rouge (aka Red Fort bridge), Agra (India)

The last Bridge-Performance before the Covid19 pandemic,
Branko’s Bridge, Belgrade (Serbia)

Post-Production

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With my ongoing project Bridges I have an unlimited recourse for ideas.

Contemporary Connections

For the Group-Exhibition Contemporary Connections in Berlin, I was interested in creating a London Tower Bridge mini sculpture. Also, I was curious about creating a production room—to see and test how this would work in contact with visitors. 

Kim Engelen, Production-room #1, Total-Shot, Berlin, Germany, 2019
Kim Engelen, London Tower Bridge Mini-Sculpture, Total View, 2019

The Bridge as Symbol

Symbol of connection, movement and transition.

Video still of Empathetic Walking Panel bridge-performance, Hangzhou, China, 2018
Empathetic Walking Panel publication and light-box installation view, Hangzhou, 2018