Abstract Liberties is an experiment in giving and receiving and working together peacefully to create something of universal value and at the same time benefit individually. It is an interactive lear- ning experience, in which each participant learns that something great only comes about as the sum of its individual components. And that this does not happen by itself, but is worthwhile and requires the participation of all involved.
Statement It is a fact that there is not one universal liberty, but instead a myriad of individual liberties. Everyone has their own idea of what liberty means. Even a common idea of liberty only results in liberty for one group, one people, one state, while other groups have other ideas about liberty. As we all know, these can be completely different, even opposing ideas. Moreover, ideas about liberty are subject to change, due personal or societal circumstances, new discoveries, improved knowledge and many other reasons.
Thus, we only have limited liberties at our disposal, that we can benefit from and enjoy. In order to take advantage of this individual liberty, however, is is necessary to give up others, so that one is left not with a universal liberty, but with a kind of compromise of one great common li- berty. The aim of the project "Liberties" is to show what this consensus might look like, how it can come about and how everyone can benefit from it.
Starting with a more or less arbitrary condition of liberty, the public is invited to modify the work, claim individual "liberties" for themselves by literally taking them and give other "liber- ties" in exchange. But this is not all! In order for the "liberties" to last, they have to be connec- ted to each other. At the end of the exhibition there will be a new, shared and unique model of liberty.
How does it work?
The work consists of a variety of components of various materials (plastic foil, paper, cloth, wood, small objects such as coins, rocks etc.) representing the many small liberties of each indi- vidual. They are sown onto larger units, thus representing the liberty of either an individual or a group. The larger units are loosely connected by means of a red thread and sewn onto a net measuring approx. 2 x 12 m, resulting in a "patchwork" of the latest state of liberty. The installa- tion is suspended between floor and ceiling by means of steel wires (weights can be used for the floor, to avoid damage to it). Each visitor can select a "liberty", remove it and take it with them. In exchange, the visitor has to choose another "liberty" from a pool, and affix it to that spot or another using a red thread. (An assistant will be needed to provide help with this process. This person can also take pictures of the "work in progress".) The final result will be a new, unique model of liberty at a specific point in time and place, the parts of which will be perpetually con- nected by a red thread.
We expect extensive participation, so that the work will look completely different by the end of the exhibition.
As there is no universal liberty, but many individual ideas of it, the project should appeal to everyone, and inspire them to participate. The technique of sewing, which is feminine, is used here on purpose to highlight the importance of women for our liberty!
The project brings together artist and non-artist (= visitor) and enables them to take part in a shared experiment to create art using an unusual method.
Abstract Liberties is an experiment in giving and receiving and working together peacefully to create something of universal value and at the same time benefit individually. It is an interactive lear- ning experience, in which each participant learns that something great only comes about as the sum of its individual components. And that this does not happen by itself, but is worthwhile and requires the participation of all involved.
Statement It is a fact that there is not one universal liberty, but instead a myriad of individual liberties. Everyone has their own idea of what liberty means. Even a common idea of liberty only results in liberty for one group, one people, one state, while other groups have other ideas about liberty. As we all know, these can be completely different, even opposing ideas. Moreover, ideas about liberty are subject to change, due personal or societal circumstances, new discoveries, improved knowledge and many other reasons.
Thus, we only have limited liberties at our disposal, that we can benefit from and enjoy. In order to take advantage of this individual liberty, however, is is necessary to give up others, so that one is left not with a universal liberty, but with a kind of compromise of one great common li- berty. The aim of the project "Liberties" is to show what this consensus might look like, how it can come about and how everyone can benefit from it.
Starting with a more or less arbitrary condition of liberty, the public is invited to modify the work, claim individual "liberties" for themselves by literally taking them and give other "liber- ties" in exchange. But this is not all! In order for the "liberties" to last, they have to be connec- ted to each other. At the end of the exhibition there will be a new, shared and unique model of liberty.
How does it work?
The work consists of a variety of components of various materials (plastic foil, paper, cloth, wood, small objects such as coins, rocks etc.) representing the many small liberties of each indi- vidual. They are sown onto larger units, thus representing the liberty of either an individual or a group. The larger units are loosely connected by means of a red thread and sewn onto a net measuring approx. 2 x 12 m, resulting in a "patchwork" of the latest state of liberty. The installa- tion is suspended between floor and ceiling by means of steel wires (weights can be used for the floor, to avoid damage to it). Each visitor can select a "liberty", remove it and take it with them. In exchange, the visitor has to choose another "liberty" from a pool, and affix it to that spot or another using a red thread. (An assistant will be needed to provide help with this process. This person can also take pictures of the "work in progress".) The final result will be a new, unique model of liberty at a specific point in time and place, the parts of which will be perpetually con- nected by a red thread.
We expect extensive participation, so that the work will look completely different by the end of the exhibition.
As there is no universal liberty, but many individual ideas of it, the project should appeal to everyone, and inspire them to participate. The technique of sewing, which is feminine, is used here on purpose to highlight the importance of women for our liberty!
The project brings together artist and non-artist (= visitor) and enables them to take part in a shared experiment to create art using an unusual method.