Commissioned by curator Thomas Kaestle on behalf of the city of Hannover, the project - among others – was expected to invigorate the discourse on public art in general as well as to provide an example for the future development of public art initiative

Project Proposal by Vienna based Artist´s collective tat ort (Alexandra Berlinger, Wolfgang Fiel) “Safety for 24 hours”: Public Art Proposal for Hannover Embarking on the 2008 report of a commission appointed for assessing the quality, necessary maintenance and future potential of further developing public art initiatives in the city of Hannover, Germany, our primary concern was to conceive of ways for stimulating a lively debate over the significance and virtues of public art in general, given the remarkable density of already existing objects and – according to the report – its high approval rates among the local population. How is it possible to re-negotiate the report´s findings publicly, when some of its evaluation criteria continue to change or seem obscure altogether? Aimed stimulation of “urban rumours” is the leitmotif of our proposal, evoking speculation about the cause of an event without arousing the impression of artistic enactment though. Therefore, instead of meeting the formal requirements of representation, our primary concern was to create a situation, which would emanate a sense of urgency without appearing unrealistic. Imagine the following scenario: A single person or a group feels obliged to provide for the special protection of as many stand alone art objects as possible at the hands of private security forces in the city-centre of Hannover for the sustained period of 24 hours. Cost Estimate 50 (public art works) x 8 (h/shift) x 3 (shifts) x 14,- Euro (hourly wage) = 16.800,- Euro (+VAT)