The project
a Moor is More features three reclaimed peatland regions in England, Germany,
and the Netherlands that share certain geological, historical, cultural and
economic characteristics. All three went through similar phases of settlement,
pioneering hardships, development, and stagnation. Their villages lie on sandy
ridges or along canals and in all three regions monasteries played an important
role in the first reclamations that were carried out during the Middle Ages.
In the nineteenth century the church and socialism exerted strong influence,
the former committed to ‘socialising’ the inhabitants, the latter to raising
their political awareness. Each region has a well-developed infrastructure of
water-courses that serve drainage purposes and accommodate shipping, and each
has a centuries-old tradition of water management resulting in the today water
boards. In all three a central waterway functioned as the axis of development.
The project A Moor is More aims to visualise the three main stages of development
of peatland landscapes. In England it is the agricultural landscape of North
Kesteven near Lincoln, in the Netherlands a nature conservation area, the polder
in the Bargerveen moorland near Emmen, and in Germany a landscape near the village
of Twist where large-scale peat extraction takes place.
The three regions are at the crossroads again today. It is in the context of development versus stagnation that artists together with the local population designed walking routes for each of the project locations. Each route is highlighted by a work of art that alludes to the special character of peatland. The works of art take three forms as their inspiration: a bench to symbolise periods of ‘slowth’ and stagnation, a bridge as a metaphor of crossing borders and exploring new worlds, and a tower to symbolise vision and renewal, planning and reflection.
The stories and experiences of the inhabitants
are expressed in the works of art. The benches have been placed along the banks
of the river Witham to sit on and contemplate the landscape. The bridge quite
literally connects the peatlands in Germany and the Netherlands. The tower is
a project that will be realised in the future; at this stage it symbolises the
intensified collaboration between the three regions.For more information surf to www.moorismeer.nl