Beyond the Cities
How can we survive in the post-apocalyptic world? I conducted a research in how to grow your own crops with no fertilizers and heavy machinery in the remote country side of Northern Portugal.
I built a shelter.
I also filmed myself for a step-by-step video instruction manual on how to survive in the wild country side once the cities have become too dangerous.
The video “Beyond the Cities” shows my own (rather hapless) attempts at survival. For this project, I made a DVD and a website about survival in post catastrophic times. Partlycomical, very serious due to the determination, partly absurd due to the sheer hopelessness of theendeavour. The work was expanded with writing, photography, sculpture, installation and performance. I showed the result in two ways: locally as a collection of physical objects (video,film, photography and writing are included in this category here), and as a website. The project was made locally in response to the space and people of Nodar. This is an outline of the ideas for it: As helter–to live in. I researched the local materials by looking around, interviewing local people and by collecting thrown-away things that could still be used.Interviews, photographs of the collected materials and objects and a video demonstration of how to put them together as well as of the finished shelter were the elements of the finished work. The physical shelter itself was a site-specific installation and housed the local presentation of the work.
Food: I was hoping that because of the remote ness of the region, old traditional ways of growing and preserving food have survived and are still practiced in the community. I researched and collected these. The result was both a written manual and a more fictional slapstick film about a city girl trying to grow things. Generally, the work acknow ledges the fact that everything in it, despite its serious background, was made in complete safety. It was a trial run, a thought experiment. Modern technologies, after all might not work anymore in the case of real disaster. I wanted to use the space that art creates to make people laugh and think in turn, to take pride in what should be conserved and maybe see their world in a slightly different light.
SURVIVE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE!
FIND A SUITABLE SPACE FOR A SHELTER
Chose a protected spot in a safe area. It should be in close proximity of water but rule out the possibility of flooding. Choose an area with many plants and, depending on the nature of the apocalyptic event, proximity to abandoned houses or villages can be of advantage because there may be a chance that food and other supplies have been left behind.
You need to be protected from rain, wind and extreme temperatures. Keep all of these aspects in mind when choosing your spot.
CLEAR THE RUBBLE
Check what state your chosen spot is in. Remove any plants, rocks or animal droppings, glass shards or any other items that are in the way.You need a dry space for your shelter. If your chosen spot is not dry to start with, see what you cando to make it dry.
COLLECT MATERIALS FOR A SHELTER
Walk around your new area and collect any materials you think suitable for the construction of the shelter. Wood, tree branches,any plastic sheeting or bricks are obviously very useful. You will need to protect yourself from rain, snow, wind and too much sunshine as well as extreme temperatures,both cold and hot.
But also keep in mind that the shelter might be your home for quite some time and try to make it your home. Decorative elements such as curtains, plants or similar objects can go a long way to make you feel settled.
BUILD THE SHELTER
Depending on what materials you find, construct a basic shelter as quickly as possible.You canal ways improve and elaborate the structure later. First of all, you need basic protection as soon as you can build it.
If you had a chance to take any books about building techniques with you or if you come across any in abandoned settlements in your new area, these can be very useful! Any camping experience orscout lessons will also prove very handy at this point. But don’t despair if you don’t have either. You will learn quickly.
Carefully look at construction methods used in your wider destination area. Materials and methods used in one part of Europe might not be as ideal in another.
SEARCH THE SURROUNDING SETTLEMENTS FOR ANY FOOD LEFT BEHIND
Depending on the specific nature of the apocalyptic event that prompted your flight from the cities,and depending on the relative isolation of your chosen home, you might be able to find food (in tinsmostly), building materials, tools and books in the houses, villages and towns around you.
While any advancement into settled areas is a risk, with duecarefulness it might be a worthwhilerisk. Especially in the early months, when you have only started growing your own food, preservedand tinned food left behind by dying or fleeing people might be your only option for survival.However, do be careful!
BUILD A FIREPLACE AND LIGHT A FIRE
It goes without saying that being able to light a fire is essential in most parts of the world (an exception being the possibility of extreme changes in the weather as a cause for the apocalyptic events in which case keeping cool might be a greater challenge than keeping warm).
Lighters and matches are good for the beginning but they won’t be around forever. You will have to learn how to light a fire without them eventually. Wherever possible, try to learn this before escaping to the wilderness.
KEEP UP PERSONAL HYGIENE
Keeping a high level of personal hygiene and cleanliness can seem like a point less exercise in the absence of other people or civilization. However, it is important from a medical point of view as well as for keeping a high level of self respect and appreciation.
Soap, tooth paste, washing powder and shampoo may be found in the respective area, however, it is a good plan to learn before hand how to make simple soap yourself and how to clean your teethu sing alternative methods.
HUNT AND COLLECT ANYTHING EDIBLE
It may seem like going back to the old days of hunting and gathering but for obvious reasons resorting to these long lost ways of obtaining food is something that shouldn’t be ignored!
Depending onthe nature of the apocalypse, however, this can be dangerous and discretion is advised! Eating mush rooms and river fish might not be a good idea after a nuclear catastrophe. On the other hand, even in this scenario this might be your only option and secure at least short-term survival.
Unless you have to, do not eat anything you are not sure about, e.g. berries can be poisonous. If you are so desperate that eating a certain fruit is your only option, start carefully and watch for symptoms before in dulging in huge amounts of the unknown object.
PLANT AND GROW YOUR OWN FOOD FOR LONG-TERM SURVIVAL
As soon as possible, depending of course on the time of year, you will start growing your own food supply. Basic tools may be found in abandoned houses or shops or you will have to be make dowith what tools you can improvise yourself. Don’t despair, it might be a lot of work but people had grown plants before machines and fertilizer! Besides keeping you fit, the work might even give you a sense of achievement and purpose…
Start right away to search for seeds, potatoes and anything else you can plant. Again, try to familiarize yourself with the basics at least of gardening and plant growing.
Easy plants to grow include potatoes, carrots and cabbages.
Depending on the area, try to learn a few things about conserving food as well.
RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL ENEMIES AND ORGANIZE YOUR DEFENCE
Whether you like it or not, you are very likely faced with the possibility of danger not only from the natural world around you (which is not to be under estimated in any case! Bears, wolves and poisonous snakes are just some of the dangerous animals still to be found in some parts of even Europe!) but also from other people. Food is very likely to be scarce in the post-apocalyptic world and water is also a potential cause for aggression.
Obviously, any weapons you can get your hands on are extremely useful. If you don’t have access to weapons or are still determined not to use them, think at least of a good defence. Camouflage and a well-hidden shelter are just two simple ways to do this. However, as soon as you start growing crops, hiding alone will hardly be sufficient and you will have to start thinking of some kind of more offensive defence system.
KEEP YOUR MIND BUSY AND YOUR SPIRITS UP
Whether you escaped alone or in a group, you will come to a point of existential angst and question your life’s purpose. Try to counteract this by keeping your mind occupied! Try to take books if you can or see if you can find any in abandoned villages.
Be creative! There are no more set norms and rules but humans need rules and regulations. Make up your own! Can’t remember the name of a flower or plant? Invent one! Having said that, it can be avery useful exercise to try and remember all the old names. Maybe you could write them down (if you have pen and paper) for future generations (never give up the hope that there may be some!).
Keep a diary if possible. Do you have any batteries and CF cards left in your camera? Keep records of your sur roundings and the changes. Do you have a mirror and artistic talent? Draw a self-portrait every day, in the sand with a stick if necessary.
Invent imaginary friends and populate your world….
Whatever it is, keep busy!
Christine Niehoff is a Berlin-based German visual artist,working in the fields of installation and video. She has presented her work in many festivals and galleries across Europe and the USA (One-Minute-Film Festival–Switzerland, Terrace Gallery–London, Zemos 98 Filmand Video Festival–Spain to name a few). One of her thematic concerns is the threat to life as we know it, not only by environmental disaster but also by the precarious ness of the globalized,technological urban world itself.
ARTISTIC WORKS