With the opening of OPEN-ENDED (the art of engagement) just a few days away, the exhibitions first component is nearly complete. Called untitled 2006 (demo station no. 5), Rirkrit Tiravanijas spiral-shaped installation was inspired by Austrian designer Friedrich Kieslers theatrical space-stage of the 1920s. But the performers in this case will be visitors to the gallery who will use the space during open-mic nights and performances, a fashion show and artist talks. The piece will also house a video booth (a video version of a fotomat booth) by filmmaker Spencer Nakasako. Visitors can choose to respond to questions in front of a camera, and their responses will be fed into a video jukebox and randomly played on the screen. (The galleries will also host a series of Thai and Chinese experimental films.)

Stations have appeared in Tiravanijas work many times, from TV and radio stations to the title of a section of the 2003 Venice Biennale he co-curated called Utopia Station. The first of Tiravanijas stations was installed at Portikus in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2001; it hosted a range of events including a series of cooking battles (Daniel Birnbaum vs. Udo Kittelmann! Frankfurt vs. Glasgow!) and was the temporary home to the editorial offices of Tiravanijas magazine oVer (the goings-on were broadcast online at SuperChannel.org). As a metaphor, Tiravanijas stations are simply temporary stopping points where people can come and do things, sort of like a craft table crossed with a train platform. We are part of a process and the station is on the move; the presentation in Venice is a starting point for more stations to appear. We are not looking for success or failure but a discussion which can flow into the future, to future station, to possibilities, he said of Utopia Station.

Written by site admin on Friday, March 24th, 2006 at 9:38 am