Rhein Water Poluted (sic)
1981
Object, 28 x ⌀ 7.5 cm.
Materials: Fles met gekleurd Rijnwater
Collection: Collectie M HKA, Antwerpen / Collectie Vlaamse Gemeenschap (Inv. no. BK009540).
An artist from Latin America, Uriburu was always sensitive to the exploitation of natural resources in underdeveloped countries for the sake of favourable economic relations with rich countries. With his "colourings" he wants to open people's eyes, he uses mass meetings of the art world for visibility and does not shy away from collaborating with environmental organisations such as Greenpeace or with the first "Green" political parties. In 1981, he coloured the waters of the Rhine with Joseph Beuys. The action was part of a national day of protest against pollution, organised by the Green Party. The following year, Beuys invited the artist to join him in planting 7,000 oaks in Kassel on the occasion of Documenta 7.