The Ruhrgebiet is a mixed area with different functions like gigantic factories, large-scale infrastructure, village-like living enclaves and agriculture situated next to each other. The last decades a new spatial layer is growing in this area: the void.

During the excursion Urban Dingsbums, Exploring the Heritage of Fragmented Landscapes, organised by LEGENDA – Gesellschaft für explorative Landeskunde e.V, two things were notable:

- The co-existence of these fragmented landscapes result in fascinating and dynamic views. In one 360 degree panorama many different atmospheres of the area are captured.

- Decayed buildings in the urban area get demolished and the area is made public without making it a public space. These voids create an openness without becoming an emptiness. They support the specific visual characteristics of the fragmented landscape.

Wiels presents a major exhibition of work by the celebrated artist Francis Alÿs: A Story of Deception. The 18 films range from tragicomic failures to poetic observations.

'Working in urban settings and dramatic landscapes, Francis Alÿs creates fable–like interventions, which frequently address a historical or political concern attached to a specific site.'

At the end of the war between Israel and Jordan in 1948, the armistice border in Jerusalem, known as ‘the green line’, was mapped out with a thick green pencil. Whilst dribbling green paint behind him from an open tin, Alÿs walks frank along this border, passing undefined spaces, checkpoints,... Some onlookers stare as they notice his strange trail. They wonder and hesitate to ask him what it means or to just indicate him on his trail.

Francis Alÿs’s work often starts with a simple act, without ever really necessarily coming to a concrete conclusion.

The work of Francis Alÿs can be seen in Brussels until the end of January 2o11. Then the exhibition goes to MOMA.

The presentation started with maps that illustrate the shifting of the social-cultural and the political-economical boarders since 19oo until 2oo6 in this area. The observation of the urban situation in the border cities of Gorltiz-Zgorzelec, Guben-Gubin, Frankfurt (Oder)-Slubice, just before the opening of the Poland border to the European Union in 2oo6, was shown by use of photos, maps and quotes out of interviews and novels. How these border cities deal with the (re)union has parallels with the unification of East- and West-Berlin.

The influence of the shifting boarders (social, cultural, economical and political) since 19oo until now in non-boarder cities in the area was also presented. The shifting boarders have a big influence on the identity of these cities. Dresden is weeding out the socialistic domination in the city centre and rebuilds hs historical centre. Cottbus wants to transform from industrial city to an international university city but has a low educated unemployed population with many social and racist problems. The design project ‘Keep it, Green it, Live in it!’ illustrates the task in the shrinking city of Merseburg.

As an example of social and cultural reunion, the effect of 2oo6 FIFA World Cup, which Germany hosted at the time of the research, was displayed.  This one-month during event brought the former East- and West-Germany more together than 2o years of political effort. ‘The German flag was no longer a monopoly of the neo-Nazis but became again the symbol of the unified German people’.