Leeds Beckett exhibition marks five years since devastating Ahr Valley floods

In SolidAHRity / In SolidAHRität, created by Dr Anne Schiffer, Reader in Design at Leeds Beckett University, opened at Hold Fast Bookshop at Leeds Dock on Thursday and will run until at least 5 August.

The exhibition reflects on the catastrophic flooding that hit the Ahr Valley in western Germany in July 2021. Drawing on personal observations and interviews with residents gathered over the past five years, it explores how the disaster has reshaped people's relationships with the river, the landscape and each other.

Dr Schiffer grew up on the banks of the River Ahr and continues to visit the area regularly to see family and friends, with her experiences informing both her research and creative practice.

She said: “Having grown up in the Ahr Valley and now living in Yorkshire, bringing this exhibition from the River Ahr to the River Aire feels especially meaningful to me.”

Alongside the exhibition, a fundraising campaign is supporting a disaster relief organisation that provided vital access to clean water in the aftermath of the floods. The appeal has already raised more than €850.

The exhibition catalogue was designed by Leeds Beckett BA (Hons) Graphic Design graduate Ella Dorrington, with support from colleagues Tom Rogers and Ashleigh Armitage.

Ella said: “In terms of inspiration, Anne’s in-depth research really drove the visual designs. The content needed to be easily legible, and a lot of information had to sit on the page along with large images that told the visual story of what happened. The system had to be relatively simple in terms of layout to ensure the information was easily readable in both German and English. Since the subject matter was quite sensitive, it also made sense to make sure the images were the main focus and not the design itself as that would take away from people’s experiences and Anne’s research of the disaster.”

Visitors can also attend a screening of the Climate Emergency Briefing, hosted by Hold Fast Bookshop, which features the Ahr Valley floods as part of a wider discussion about climate change and resilience.

Dr Schiffer's research uses people-centred design to explore lived experiences of resource scarcity, with a focus on improving equitable access to energy and water. Her work combines research, storytelling and design to better understand how communities respond to environmental change.

In SolidAHRity / In SolidAHRität is open at Hold Fast Bookshop, Leeds Dock, until 5 August, with the possibility of an extended run. Admission is free. The digital exhibition catalogue is available online, and donations to the accompanying fundraiser continue to support disaster relief efforts in the Ahr Valley.