The Why are we here Project is an art initiative that started in mid 2021. The project consists on a participative action where people are asked a fundamental question “Why are we here?” and are invited to answer it through an email address. Up to this date the project has over 1000+ answers that are building an existentialist archive.

 

The WAWHP is a public space project where a horizontal line is drawn between the question, those who read it and those who decide to answer it. For a period of one-year pink and blue posters where placed in different areas of Berlin’s public space. The poster has a simple design; first; the enunciation of the question both in English (Why are we here?) and in German (Warum Sind wir hier?). Then in smaller caps, an open invitation to answer the question; “If you think you have an answer to this question please sent it to:”; the email address; whyarewehereanswer@gmail.com . And at last, some paper strips with the email address that people can tear and take with them.

 

This project entails a philosophical pursue regarding existence. The purpose of the WAWHP resides on the hi light of the question itself and on the creation of the answers archive. The importance of the question lays on its search for meaning. Acknowledging once own existence comes with the inevitable question for purpose.

 

Furthermore, the project reflects the Zeitgeist of a specific time and place in a very particular way, through the matter of questioning existence itself. When the project started covid was nearing its end and it is feasible to see this in some answers, then, during the Russia Ukraine conflict the project received some answers that questioned meaning parting from the non-understanding of this situation in the 21st century. Until now, the project has only been based in Berlin, and in a way, it speaks about how people here right now are feeling and thinking the why.