Forum Z

The “Liewen am Minett” project came to life by an initiative of the Minister of Culture Robert Krieps in 1986. In the photo book’s foreword he stated that the heart of Luxembourg’s industry, “the cradle of its prosperity and the material support of national independence” – the Minett – has been unfairly overlooked, and its “new type of man” – the Minettsdäpp – largely unseen. Some 35 years later, researcher Viktoria Boretska has revisited this project and talked to some of the protagonists but also with younger photographers that still document the region in transformation. The Forum Z was attended by some 70 participants.

On 7 September, the Kulturfabrik in Esch-Alzette became the stage of a hands-on media archeology performance. 

This edition of the Forum Z was organised in the framework of the Doing Experimental Media Archaeology (DEMA) research project. Funded by the FNR, this project aims to study the potential of hands-on experimentation in order to better understand and experience the materiality of old media technologies and their practices of use.After an introduction by the director of the C²DH and PI of the DEMA project, Andreas Fickers, the live demonstrations started with Aleksander Kolkowski and his Auxetophone and Stentorphone air-amplified gramophones (ca. 1908-1921). A giant 3D-printed exponential horn, based on a design from 1929, attached to an authentic gramophone, filled the room with music.

The demonstrations then turned into a more visual experience with Tim van der Heijden showing the Kinora motion picture viewing technology (ca. 1907). The audience witnessed a live demonstration of original and replica models, and a screening of 9.5mm reels with a Pathé-Baby film projector (ca. 1924) on an original projection screen.

Then followed a mesmerizing Magic Lantern Show by Karin Bienek & Ludwig Vogl-Bienek (illuminago) with gramophone accompaniment by Aleksander Kolkowski.

On October 17, 2022, the REMIX team invited all interested parties to a Forum Z on the subject of “industrial heritage: local – regional – international” at the Cockerill mine in Ellergronn. The venue itself was the program: the historic buildings, which now house the nature administration, used to be part of the Katzenberg pit.

After a short welcome by C²DH director Andreas Fickers and an introduction by Stefan Krebs, head of the Remixing Industrial Pasts research project, the “Cockerill Mine” and its preservation were also the first focus of the panel discussion. Henri Clemens, President of the Entente Mine Cockerill, used many photos to show the restoration of the buildings and the restoration of the site. Denis Scuto, Vice Director of the C²DH, focused on the transformation of the Belval district from a former ironworks to today's modern residential, office, research and leisure district. Jean-Paul Guilianelli, member of the Association pour la Mémoire Industrielle du Grand Longwy, took a similar view. Due to the extensive privatization of the industrial cultural heritage, it was up to private companies and investors whether something was preserved and if so, under what conditions. With few exceptions, this has led to the extensive disappearance of the local industrial heritage. Jacques Maas, who researches industrial heritage at the C²DH, took a critical look at the construction plans of the "Rout Lëns", which was sold to a private contractor, and the former ARCELOR-MITTAL site in Schifflingen. Simone Beck from the Commission national luxembourgeoise pour la coopération avec l'UNESCO gave an insight into the various UNESCO World Heritage categories and their selection criteria. She also raised the issue of the toxic legacy in the form of contaminated soil. Finally, Helmuth Albrecht (TU Bergakademie Freiberg) presented the lengthy and arduous work of his project group to award the “Montanregion Erzgebirge” with the title of UNESCO World Heritage. 

Stimulated by the questions from the audience, there was a lively discussion about the sense and necessity of preserving the industrial heritage. The Forum Z was attended by some 50 participants.

The aim of REPAIR is to shed light on the changes and continuities in the history of maintenance and repair in Luxembourg. The project questions the master narratives of the emergence of the consumer society and the concomitant decline of repair. Instead, it considers the long-term development of maintenance and repair and their different historical trajectories, e.g. during economic and social crises. On 3 December 2022, a Forum Z was held at a Repair Café in Vianden on the theme of repair. Participants could bring along items that needed fixing, like electrical appliances, clothes, bicycles, toys and small items of furniture, and listen to a talk about the history of repair.