2nd International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville “The Unhomely: Phantom Scenes in Global Society” Artistic director: Okwui Enwezor
26.10.2006 – 08.01.2007 http://www.fundacionbiacs.com For the exhibition “The Unhomely: Phantom Scenes in Global Society” one new video for the project “Alternative Economics, Alternative Societies” was commissioned by the Biennial in Seville. Most of the 15 videos of the installation will be presented with Spanish subtitles. ALTERNATIVE ECONOMICS, ALTERNATIVE SOCIETIES A project by Oliver Ressler After the loss of a counter-model for capitalism – which socialism, in its real, existing form had presented until its collapse – alternative concepts for economic and social development face hard times at the beginning of the twenty-first century. In the industrial nations, broadly discussed are only those “alternatives” that do not question the existing power relations of the capitalist system and representative democracies. Other socio-economic approaches are labeled utopian, devalued, and excluded from serious discussion, if even considered at all. The thematic installation, “Alternative Economics, Alternative Societies,” focuses on diverse concepts and models for alternative economies and societies, which all share a rejection of the capitalist system of rule. An interview was carried out for each concept. Interview partners include economists, political scientists, authors, and historians. From these interviews, a video in English was produced. In the exhibition, these single-channel 20- to 37-minute videos are each shown on a separate monitor, thus forming the central element of the artistic installation. The project presents the following 15 alternative social and economic models: Inclusive Democracy with Takis Fotopoulos (GB/GR), 37 min., 2003 Workers’ Self-Management in Yugoslavia with Todor Kuljic (SCG), 23 min., 2003 Caring Labor with Nancy Folbre (U.S.A.), 20 min., 2003 Free Cooperation with Christoph Spehr (D), 32 min., 2003 Utopian Feminist Visions with Marge Piercy (U.S.A.), 24 min., 2003 Participatory Economics with Michael Albert (U.S.A.), 37 min., 2003 Workers’ Collectives during the Spanish Revolution with Salomé Moltó (E), 22 min., 2004 Change the World Without Taking Power with John Holloway (MEX/GB), 23 min., 2004 bolo’bolo with p.m. (CH), in collaboration with Lia, 22 min., 2004 The Paris Commune 1871 with Alain Dalotel (F), in collaboration with Rebond pour la Commune, 25 min., 2004 Anarchist Consensual Democracy with Ralf Burnicki (D), 29 min., 2005 The Subsistence Perspective with Maria Mies (D), 26 min., 2005 Libertarian Municipalism with Chaia Heller (U.S.A.), 32 min., 2005 The Zapatista Good Government with Zapatistas (MEX), in collaboration with Tom Waibel, 31 min., 2006 Towards a New Socialism with Paul Cockshott (GB), 25 min., 2006 Chosen from each of these 15 videos is one quotation significant for the alternative model that it presents. The quote is placed directly on the floor of the exhibition room as a several meter long text piece. This floor lettering, made from adhesive film, leads exhibition visitors directly to the corresponding videos and thereby provides a kind of orientation within this non-hierarchically arranged pool of videos. These videos offer stimulus and suggestions for contemplating social alternatives and possibilities for action. The whole exhibition project started in Ljubljana in 2003 with five videos. Meanwhile, the installation has grown to include 15 videos with a total length of almost seven hours. The project is ongoing. Further economic and social concepts will be added continually in the coming years. Since 2003 the installation “Alternative Economics, Alternative Societies” was realized in exhibitions in Galerija Skuc, Ljubljana (SI); Espace Forde, Genève (CH); Kunstraum der Universitaet Lueneburg (D); Transmediale.04, Berlin (D); O.K – Center for Contemporary Art, Linz (A); Kunsthalle Exnergasse, Vienna (A); Itaucultural Institute, Sao Paulo (BR); Sorlandets Kunstmuseum, Kristiansand (N); Wyspa Progress Foundation, Gdansk (PL); Centro Cultural Conde Duque, MediaLabMadrid, Madrid (E); Forum Stadtpark / Steirischer Herbst, Graz (A); Main Trend Gallery, Taipei (RC), Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Mali Salon, Rijeka (HR), Platform Garanti Contemporary Art Center, Istanbul (TR), kuda.org – New Media Center / Museum of Contemporary Art, Novi Sad (SCG), Museum of Contemporary Art Belgrade, Salon, Belgrade (SCG), Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe (D), Miroquesada Garland Gallery, Lima (PE) and Kunstihoone, Tallinn (EST). For installation shots, video transcriptions, reviews and interviews about the project please visit http://www.ressler.at/content/view/3/lang,en_GB Further information and texts in German: www.ressler.at _______________________________________________ NetBehaviour mailing list [email protected] http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour
