Zoë Dowlen & Andrea Fortmann

“Sich an den jeweiligen umständen entlang arbeiten, und die gemeinsame idee zusammen halten – sie bringen.”

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24.04.26           poem reading, introduction to practice
02.07.26           invitation to join practice, updates here (state of flow)

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“(…)” idee

The idea is simple: a direct connection, a bit of string held on both sides of the river and carried forward, as a conceptual action that feels worth trying. The aim is simply to carry out this experiment together as an ongoing practice.

Along the way, we encounter conditions that open up different perspectives on the politics of both riverbanks—connection and separation, the flow in between, and what emerges through collective movement.

The focus is on following a conceptual line, and on what it means to commit to such a thought in practice. To understand what remains hidden we work with the material that is there.

The process is ongoing.

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poem reading “(…)” entlang Umständen, 24.04.26

“entlang Umständen” will be performed on the opening evening of Kunst im Fluss IV as an introduction to the practice (approx. 10 minutes). The meeting point will be announced.

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invitation to join practice, 02.07.26

During Kunst im Fluss IV, we meet with the string starting from St. Karli Brücke on Thursday, 02.07, at sunrise. No prior experience is required. You can join in ways that are fun and suited to you and at any point as we move across different terrains.

-> soon, you can follow our ongoing practice and find out how to participate here (state of flow)

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about Zoë and Andrea

Andrea Fortmann *1991 and Zoë Dowlen*1979 are artists with different but intersecting practices. Their dialogue began in 2021, when Andrea joined Atelier Bildzwang. They were often found sitting by the river sharing food and ideas. Overtime, they have invited each other into their processes of making and thinking.

Andrea’s work uncovers the poetry and hidden dynamics of everyday encounters.  She points out the conditions and the time we live in, through an acute observation of words, gestures and objects. “Like sensors between encounter and reception, these gestures draw attention to the conditions themselves.” (Andrea, 2025)

Zoë works across a range of media, performance, movement, textiles and text.  Her work examines the relationship between personal story and our collective cultural experience. “For me Art is a way to navigate through life, to tell people where you have been and to work out where it is possible to go. We leave a trail that might help others on their journeys.” (Zoë, 2026)

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Andrea Fortmann, 2025