GERMANY: 70,000 SEEDS TO BE PLANTED

BERLIN (Reuters) - An Austrian artist has high expectations for the
Documenta art fair in Kassel in June -- he wants to plant 70,000 cannabis
plants in parks, flower beds and traffic islands in the west German town.

"We're not big smokers and this is not a hoax. This is a serious view of
soft drugs. We wanted to show cannabis is normal, just like wheat or
something," said project organiser Robert Jelinek.

"We're working on the cross-over sphere of what's legal and what is not. We
are not pot activists," Jelinek told Reuters on Wednesday, adding he did not
believe he was committing an offence.

Documenta, held every five years, is one of Europe's leading contemporary
art shows. It opens on June 9 and runs until September 15.

A Documenta spokeswoman said the project was not on their official list of
displays.

Among Jelinek's previous work is a 10-euro note perfumed with the scent of
the Austrian schilling. The note retailed for 12 euros while the scent,
called EU de Toilette, was available separately.

Planting by volunteers begins on June 8 and continues for about 10 days. The
cannabis plants will reach full maturity in three months.

The project was developed as a tribute to German artist Joseph Beuys'
installation "7,000 oaks for Kassel", a contribution to Documenta in 1982,
Jelinek says. "We just wanted to do more," says Jelinek.


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