ZUCHT, PFLEGE UND BEOBACHTUNG VON HELIX POMATIA, 2003

Mehrwert Kunstverein Aachen

The display window of the former Asian supermarket Interfood, now location of Kunstverein Mehrwert e.V., served as a breeding terrarium for the edible Burgundy snail. The escargot has been on the animal protection list since 1970 and is therefore bred in hothouses for gastronomic purposes. During the 20-hours long installation act, the snails went about their natural business unhindered: eating, sleeping, crawling, copulating (the Helix pomatia mating season is June).

The snails moved freely in the showcase, glided up the panes, crept along the floor and ceiling. Visitors could view the display window on the highly frequented Jülicher Strasse daily 24-hours long. The passing-byers may have mistaken the snails for living supermarket merchandise, as is often the case in Asia and America. This was all the more likely as there was nothing in the window to indicate any artistic activity or work.

The exhibition ended with a video lecture at the Stadtgarten’s biotope garden behind the NAK. Under the title „The domestic animal in the age of technical food production exemplified by Helix pomatia“, the audience learned interesting facts about the biology, the breeding, the preparation and consumption of Burgundy snails.

Achim Mohné’s video shows a microscopic tape of Helix pomatia during its nightly activities of feeding and copulating, shot with a specially modified infrared camera module. Dr. Mark Benecke, a well-known forensic biologist held a video lecture on Helix pomatia‘s „love arrow“. The snails were afterwards taken home by the visitors for use in their garden or their cuisine. On that same evening several specimens were released to the wild in the Aachener Stadtgarten.