To be here. Drink coffee. Read A Book. Some produce

"In Saskatoon, the capital of Saskatchewan in Canada, I performed last year at the invitation of the Director of the new Museum Remai Modern a Critical Workshop, which is typical for my artistic work. In the foreground, the mutual Learning to stand each other. The title was: "What I can learn from you. What you can learn from me".

It wasn't a question that comes to me, to learn me to Paint or Draw. The people should share a skill you have with me – in English "to share". Someone informed about its ability of Whistling, another showed how to make a paper plane, a third told of his experiences that he had as a soldier.

many of the participants were members of the First Nations. Numerous visitors have reported their experiences in the so-called Residential Schools, boarding-type schools, which are exclusively attended by children of the canadian native people. Often, these representatives of the First Nations languages of their difficulties with alcohol and drugs. Also of violence, especially sexual violence, was often the speech.

Through this Workshop, I was confronted with a story that I would describe as universal. I went there as an anthropologist, not as a therapist but as a person who is interested in the skills of other people. I was surprised at how important it is for many people to share their experiences.

Thinking and working space

Also I told of my experience of life. Once there were 10, sometimes 20, sometimes 30 people gathered in the Museum. A total of 417 people were in these Workshops. With such actions in a Museum, it's an extension of the Museum's work. Once I asked the question, what is the visitors of a Museum expect. One of them said: "I want to be welcomed." This has stayed with me. He didn't want to see the best art exhibition or famous works of art, but are welcomed. For me, this is a very important Input for every Museum. Another said: "I want the museum shows me why it does exist."

I have changed in the Museum, one that for me, the floor, the walls and the light with a paper pack and adhesive strips and even Support built-in. From the White Cube as a way of Thinking and working space is created. I have also made furniture, tool brought and Material that can be used to create something.

I call these built-in sculptures. My concept of Sculpture is precarious and limited in time. This means that the sculpture is present during the time that I'm in this place. It's not, for me, these sculptures but the object, that's why I need also the notion of "Installation", but the experiences that I share in these sculptures with other people. It comes to intensity, the very few moments that I would describe as moments of grace, unexpected, moments, caused by the coming Together of different people and energies.

An example: In Saskatoon, a woman who spoke about their experiences in the Residential Schools came. Among the audience were a class of 12 - to 14-year-old students. You sat like a stone, as this woman told. In spite of the depressing experiences that have been mentioned, it was a beautiful Moment that will remain with the safety of all present in memory.

As I invited people, I asked the Museum to ask visitors, no entrance fee, but you have to pay. The Museum has everyone who came, paid 100 canadian dollars, which are 75Schweizer francs. For me, it was an expression of appreciation for the participants should contribute with their experience is essential to the Success.

For my work I have designed a Guideline, the "Presence and Production". I can do that in a public space. The Bataille Monument at the Documenta 11 in 2002, was the first of my presence and production of the project. Then, the Musée Précaire in Albinet and the Spinoza Festival in Amsterdam.

I also realized that I can do these art activities in a Museum. For example, Swiss-Swiss Democracy "was" at the Centre Culturelle Suisse, Paris, 2004, presence and production of the project. The Same is true for "Flamme éternelle" at Palais de Tokyo in 2014 or for Saskatoon. In these Museum projects, it's about to get a non-exclusive audience to the Museum, so the people on the ground. It is important that the entrance is free. In the ideal case, the Museum would also be round-the-clock open. I can do with my Work, in fact, always the model of a Museum of the future.

Welcome Team instead of guard

In Munich and in Shanghai currently running exhibitions of me, which I'm not even present. I have created in the Villa Stuck, and in the Ming the Contemporary Art Museum the conditions to ensure that the people come and come back and produce something. Admission is free, and the ruins of sculptures to animate the people to create something and be creative. It has, therefore, Material and tools. All of this was provided by the museums. With the Museum's ruins I games, by the way Antonio Gramsci, who wrote: "Destruction is difficult. Indeed it is as difficult as creation."

You should come in this by me, created the Museum in ruins. Be here. Drink coffee. Read a book. Something produce. The public space should be extended into the Museum. Today is circumcised in our cities, the public space more and more. In London even the Parks to be privatized. Everything must be efficient and profitable. Maybe dasMuseum could take over the function of the public space? The Museum is full of art , what pleases me very well. Incidentally, I have reached, both in Munich, as in Shanghai, that there are no guards to guard my art, but a Welcome Team greeted the visitors."

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 14.01.2019, 17:39 PM