The Rørpost Collaboration Project

Our purpose is to bring international artists together using collaborative projects as a pipeline for the flow of creative energy, the development of friendships, and the celebration of the freedom of expression.

We paired 21 Esbjerg artists with 21 Houston artists. Each artist started a work on paper. These works were sent across the Atlantic to be finished by their artistic partner. The work then made a return trip to its creative origin. Each artist subsequently created a new work in response to the experience of the collaboration in a medium of their choice.

There will be four exhibitions, two in Esbjerg and two in Houston. The exhibits will each consist of  42 collaborative paper pieces and 21 individual artist responses.

About the Name "Rørpost"

Rørpost  is a pneumatic tube in Danish. In the past pneumatic tubes were used in department stores to make change or exchange paper messages. In this case Rørpost is a metaphor for sending the paper exchange and art ideas across the Atlantic. The verb "Røre" basically means "to touch" when translated from Danish to English.

Rørpost is the first phase of a three phase project:

1. Rørpost, the tube, is a fast and free paper exchange. Røre, to touch, is creating art as a result of the collaborative process and the first touch.
2.  Rørledning, the pipe, has a larger diameter and exchange. Artists will travel to each other’s country to create art and/or exhibit.
3. Rørsamling. the joint, is a connection.  Artists in other cities will form connections using the Rørpost to Rørledning model.