WHY DÜSSELDORF?
For over 30 years, the “Düsseldorfers of the Year 2021” Christiane Oxenfort and Andreas Dahmen, organisers of the Düsseldorf Festival, have been providing a stage for dance, theatre and modern circus from all over the world. Their white tent in the centre of the old town draws in the crowds at the annual autumn event.
What do you associate with Düsseldorf?
Christiane Oxenfort: Düsseldorf is my home, the place I could never leave - the place I always like to return to when I travel - the place where my family, my friends are - the place that is open to the arts -the place where I greatly enjoy partying - the place where you can always present something new - the place that is soothing for my soul!
Andreas Dahmen: Düsseldorf is the place where I studied. I came here in the eighties to study music and flute at the Robert Schumann Hochschule. I immersed myself in the local music scene and eventually became part of it. I made friends and met fellow students here and lived away from home for the first time. That’s how Düsseldorf became formative for me. I had the immense pleasure of meeting the great church musician Oskar Gottlieb Blarr at the Neanderkirche and making music with him. For me, the Neanderkirche and its rich musical tradition is very closely connected with Düsseldorf. Over the course of my early years in the city, I also got to know the Japanese side of the city. After several concert stays in Japan, I increasingly enjoyed this fantastic culture in the city. In general, I associate internationality paired with a certain Rhenish laid-backness with this city.
“For me, the surprising side of Düsseldorf is usually connected with creativity.”
Christiane Oxenfort
What makes the Düsseldorf cultural scene special?
Christiane Oxenfort: I find the Düsseldorf cultural scene very diverse. It includes everything from small independent productions to subsidised events. The scene has a great network and is mutually enriching.
Andreas Dahmen: The city is rich in culture and has a great scene, which is wonderful. There are traditional players who pull their weight and who also make good use of it. I think that cultural wealth in combination with an easy-going attitude has potential.
Where is Düsseldorf at its most surprising?
Christiane Oxenfort: For me, the surprising side of Düsseldorf is usually connected with creativity. It can be a chance encounter with people who have founded exciting start-ups that you only learn about when you meet them in person. These are new artistic projects, in locations not yet established for cultural events. I’m referring to the theatre collective PièrreVers, with whom we’ve been working for a long time, and who always play with public and private spaces in surprising new ways and thus make it possible to experience them at all. But there are also lovingly designed places in urban areas that are organised and maintained by their neighbourhood.
Andreas Dahmen: Not really surprising, but the city’s entire scene is worth discovering in general. Düsseldorf is an impressive place for art.
Which artists would you like to invite to Düsseldorf?
Christiane Oxenfort: Exactly the artist who is coming to our festival this year: James Thierrée, a star in France and actually a grandson of Charly Chaplin, is coming to Germany for the first time with his company. We have been trying to invite him to the festival for at least for 15 years or more. Finally it is happening. He is an artistic multi-talent. His piece is weird, crazy, musical, theatrical, impossible to describe properly. You simply have to see it.
Andreas Dahmen: I saw the wonderful work “Le Bruit des Loups” by the French magician Étienne Saglio - a mixture of theatre and magic. His art is beautiful, enigmatic and magical in the truest sense of the word. Things disappear and reappear in strange ways. All with incredible poetry and without the often shouty nature of classic vaudeville. This production should really be seen by our fantastic festival audience. But it doesn’t fit in our tent because it’s too big. We’re not giving up, so it’ll just have to wait.
“Fortunately, my job naturally brings me together with interesting people”
Andreas Dahmen
Where in Düsseldorf do you find inspiration?
Christiane Oxenfort: At the Rhine, time and again at the Rhine.
Andreas Dahmen: For my work, I tend to travel a lot to the major cities of Europe. However, that would be of no use if I didn’t feel at home here. I am a Rhinelander and I find Düsseldorf to be the perfect place for the encounter of the local and the international. I believe that wherever that can be felt, that’s where my inspiration lies.
Where in Düsseldorf do you meet interesting people?
Christiane Oxenfort: At very different places and in very different communities. I’m on the road both artistically and for business, so the places are diverse and very different. There are the network meetings in the Böhlerwerke or in the Ständehaus, there are the different cultural institutes or the diverse gastronomic scene. Here I like to be out and about in the city districts. Yes, and then of course at my own cultural event, the Düsseldorf Festival!
Andreas Dahmen: I meet interesting people everywhere, I can’t pinpoint that. Fortunately, my job naturally brings me together with interesting people. Düsseldorf offers everything to enable me to meet them, and not only from my profession.
A perfect day in Düsseldorf...
Christiane Oxenfort: 25 degrees, a light breeze, the theatre tent of the Düsseldorf Festival is up and people are flocking to the opening night.
Andreas Dahmen: In the morning I might plan a walk through the Urdenbacher Kämpe, then into the old town. I love the breweries for their relaxed atmosphere, the thought of a pre-lunch drink with good friends or family is quite lovely. Meeting at the Schumacher, Schlüssel or Uerige at lunchtime on a sunny bank holiday and then later having some food in the Japanese district is wonderful. For September, I simply have to recommend the Düsseldorf Festival to everybody, because it just reflects the spirit of this city so well.
Düsseldorf in 3 words...
Christiane Oxenfort: Cosmopolitan, tolerant, diverse.
Andreas Dahmen: Liveable, open-minded, relaxed. •
Words Karolina Landowski
Pictures Susanne Diesner