Installation and video programme with works by Nick Blythe, Stephen Connolly, Rainer Ganahl, Simon Goldin, Mark Harris, Inventory, Ralf Küster, Olaf Simon, Gia Rigvava. The video programme brings together works by different international artists. The videos examine methods and ways of acting in public and of public speaking. The individual works aim to approach the idea of public space, while dealing with questions of how artistic production and intention can be realised within institutional or public spheres. Some of the artists involved take on different roles or have founded public or private institutions themselves.
Simon Goldin, MIS Press Conference
Simon Goldin organised a press conference for his own Monetary Inquiry Assosiatiom, MIA. This assosiation aims to ask questions about monetary values and monetary doubt in society.
Gia Rigvava, You can rely on me
Gia Rigvava, as a futuristic TV anchorman, assures us that we can rely on him.
Ralf Künster and Olaf Simon, Germany in Autumn
In the autumn of 2001, the artists tried to film a highrise in Bremen. The video documents a discussion with security personel, who try to prevent them from filming.
Rainer Ganahl, Homeland Security
Rainer Ganahl has learned various different languages. For this video, he produced a number of public statements, each in 11 different languages: “I am not a terrorist”, “I am not a religious fanatic”, “I don’t know how to build bombs”, “I am not downloading dangerous information from the internet”.
Mark Harris, Marijuana in the UK
In Cannabis College, Amsterdam, two texts are read out to the cannabis plants in order to evoque the hallucinogenic capacities of the plants: Chales Baudalaire’s “Haschish Gedicht” (1860) and Walter Benjamin’s “Hashish in Marseilles” (1934).
Stephen Connolly, The Reading Room
Stephen Connolly describes his research in the archives of the British Library in London.
Nick Blythe, The benefits of unemployment
Nick Blythe founded the New Utopian Realisation Society (NURS), that questions the roles and alleged “use” of unemployment for society. The soundings are presented in a public lecture.
Gia Rigvava, Russia is dangerous still, Russia is loveable still
Morse code messages are broadcast in order to inform us that “Russia is dangerous still, Russia is loveable still”.
Inventory, Coagulum
“Coagulum” shows a group of people who in the from of a rugby ring try to block the entrance of a shopping centre. “Coagulum” refers to the possibility to clog up a system and to block the circulation of blood for a short amount of time.
This text is taken from the book Liftarchiv, ©Copyright 2007 Szuper Gallery, published by Revolver ISBN 978-3-86588-403-9