Africa "Adopts" Lonely European Adults
LilMtnCbn
Africa "Adopts" Lonely European Adults
For lonely, unattached Europeans looking for human warmth yet little
commitment, Gudrun F. Widlok has the solution: The German artist arranges their
symbolic adoption by families in Third World countries.
It all started with an inconspicuous leaflet in her letter box. Ten pairs of
love-hungry eyes stared at her from the centre-fold. The leaflet was from a
charity organization calling for Europeans to sponsor a child in a Third World
country. Gudrun F. Widlok, feeling a little melancholy herself, stuck a photo
of herself next to those of the children. And had an idea: Why not find people
in Third World countries to adopt lonely, melancholy city dwellers like
herself?
Five years later, in her light-flooded kitchen in Berlin, Gudrun F. Widlok runs
her fingers through a large pile of photos and starts spreading them out on the
table. Pictures of pale, tired-looking young Europeans, taken in their flats,
offices, or out on the street mingle with photos of proud-looking, erect
Africans, standing in colourful robes next to green palms, their faces glowing
in strong African sun. Two worlds which couldn't be further apart. Two worlds
between which Widlok wants to build a bridge.
Gudrun F. Widlok (photo) organizes the adoption of unattached Europeans by
families in the Third World. Europeans who like her, have gone their individual
ways, see their families only once every few months and often, especially on a
dull winter's evening, yearn for a breath of comforting, family warmth. Adopted
by people who may be lacking in riches and western wealth but not in family
ties and simple joy. The adoption is merely symbolic, the project not about
materialistic but pure emotional exchange. "Many people wish for company but at
the same time want to stay unattached and uncommitted. Which is why I help them
find a new, symbolic family in countries where this kind of family life still
exists".
African warmth vs. Berlin gloom
One of these countries is Africa. Widlok has always been fascinated by life on
the African continent. Many of her travels have led her to Africa's bustling
cities, sandy deserts and windy plains and the continent turns up repeatedly in
her artistic work. For her current adoption project, called "Adopted", Widlok
took to Africa to look for potential godparents for her European counterparts
at home. Laden with portraits of adoption candidates, and with the help of an
African contact, she opened up her first mobile office in Africa in Burkina
Faso. It was an experience she will never forget: "Not only were the Africans
both curious and fascinated by the candidates", she says, eyes shining. "They
were so warm-hearted, too".
During her trip, Widlok managed to find families for 30 adoption candidates.
People like Martin, 37, photographer from Berlin. Julia, 29, actress from
Cologne. Or Franciso, 49, Professor from Zaragoza, Spain. His "new" father is
called Ousmane Sawadogo, is 41 and works and lives as a banker in the capital
of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougo. On the photo that Widlok has taken of him he grins
broadly, a friendly, but also proud, smile. In the register form that Widlok
hands out to everyone who wants to take part, he has written "I want to be
there for other people".
In the pile of photos on Widlok's kitchen table, Francisco and Sawadogo's
photos now lie together. Two worlds, west and east, black and white, red sand
and Berlin gloom, pinned together to form one. Whether they will make contact,
write or speak, or even one day visit each other, Widlok cannot say. "When the
arrangement is done then that's the end of my part. But I am definitely
curious", she says with a grin.
Difficult to believe
Sometimes, when Gudrun F. Widlok sifts through her photos, reads the newspaper
clippings or simply recalls the many people and places she has encountered
through "Adopted", she still finds it all difficult to believe. What started
off originally as a purely fictitious art project has taken on realistic
dimensions way beyond her imaginations. For months, friends and visitors to
exhibitions where she first presented "Adopted" beleaguered her to really try
out her idea. Today, "Adopted" is already more fact than fiction and as the
yearning for security and warmth appears to be growing, so is the number of
applicants, too.
And what about the artist herself - does she not yearn for the security of
family life, too? Widlok laughs. "When I was in Burkina Faso everyone
immediately made me feel part of their family. In a way, I have been adopted
several times".
Marley Greiner
Yippie!
Marley
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