ECHOES IN TRANSITION
Echoes In Transition
Memory walls of Lusatia
A participatory earth-building installation exploring memory, belonging and transformation in Lusatia.
An art project by Khandoker Upama Kabir
Technical Development & Production Coordination
Arvid Ruddigkeit, Lehmbau e.V.
Presented as part of the
OpenArt Lausitz Biennale 2026
With support from BTU Cottbus–Senftenberg
The Project
A participatory earth-building installation exploring memory, belonging and transformation through traditional building techniques and collective making.
Inspired by the disappearing villages and traditional Umgebindehäuser of Lusatia, Echoes in Transition invites people to build together using earth, straw and memory. Through a collective process, the installation becomes an evolving archive of belonging and transformation.
From Research to Reality
Every part of Echoes in Transition grew from months of research into Lusatia's architectural heritage, earth-building traditions, and participatory design. From the first sketches to material experiments and construction planning, the project evolved through an ongoing dialogue between research, making, and community.
Why It Matters
The Lusatia region is undergoing a profound transformation. As coal mining landscapes change and traditional villages and buildings disappear, questions of memory, identity, and belonging become increasingly important. Echoes in Transition responds to this moment by bringing people together to build—not only with earth, straw, and timber, but also with shared experiences and stories.
Inspired by the region's Umgebindehäuser and traditional earth-building techniques, the project reimagines cultural heritage as something living and participatory rather than something preserved behind glass. Every handprint, impression, and contribution becomes part of a collective archive that reflects both the past and the future of Lusatia.
Rather than presenting a finished artwork, Echoes in Transition invites the community to shape it together, demonstrating how making, remembering, and building can become acts of care, dialogue, and renewal. Through this shared process, the project explores how art can strengthen connections between people, place, and material in a region experiencing continuous change.
Join the Workshop
Get your hands dirty and help shape Echoes in Transition. Over several workshop days, participants will work together with clay, straw, timber, and natural fibres to create a temporary installation that reflects memory, community, and transformation in Lusatia. Whether you're curious about earth building, interested in art, or simply enjoy making things together, we'd love to have you join us.
Workshop at a glance:
📍 Location : Strombad Cottbus
📅 Workshop Dates : 5–9 September 2026
💶 Cost : Free of charge
🌍 Languages: English & German
👥 Suitable for : Everyone – no experience required