DHL Express has rolled up its sleeves and “got its hands dirty” to help a US artist create a uniquegiant display of soil samples from around the world entitled ‘Common Ground 191’.
In 2001 artist Gary Simpson had a vision about bridging national gaps through naturalartisitc expression. He decided to collect soil samples from each of the United Nations memberstates and create a work displaying the interaction of mankind.
In cooperation with DHL Express, US embassies and local contacts, Simpson shipped a boxwithin a box to each country, enclosing a return airwaybill and documentation for delivery back tothe USA. Volunteers all over the world started to dig up earth, fill it into jars and placethe jars into the pre-adressed and pre-paid boxes ready for delivery by DHL.
Samples from 190 countries travelled over 2.5 million miles to the USA, where they underwentcustoms checks and sterilisation by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) at DHL’sinternational gateway at Los Angeles airport to remove all organic material.
The first stage of the Common Ground 191 exhibit went on display at John Wayne Airport,Orange County, California, last week with 14 panels containing soil from 38 countries, nationalflags, jars and DHL shipping boxes, and will remain open until February 22, 2010.
“DHL was the perfect partner to help complete the vision of my global earth art project asthey are the only express carrier with the local experience and knowledge in each United Nationscountry,” said artist Gary Simpson. “I appreciate DHL’s role in helping bring this massive andcomplex undertaking to fruition through their expertise in international cross-border shipping.”
“We’re proud to have been able to utilise our worldwide talents and far-reaching globalnetwork to help Gary Simpson complete his artistic vision,” commented Mike Parra, Senior VicePresident and General Manager -Western USA, DHL Express.
