Martin Rieser Artist and Writer Codes of Disobedience

Project Description

Exhibition Dates: 5th- 25th of March 2011

Venue: Athens

Weblink: http://empedia.info/maps/41

“Codes of Disobedience & Disfunctionality” creates a trail with a difference and a new narrative for the city of Athens and its contemporary transformations.

Inspired by the posters and the graffiti of the city and taking advantage of the possibilities given by mobile communication technologies (GPS, QR codes etc) and the internet, Martin Rieser and the workshop team aimed to connect the urban surroundings of Athens to opinions and statements of its inhabitants regarding the challenges imposed by the current social, political, and financial circumstances; Anger, disobedience, opposition, dysfunctionality.

The features of the contemporary metropolis in the midst of a period of crisis are the main focus of the project.

Workshop Conductor:
Professor Martin Rieser

Interdisciplinary Workshop Team:
Elena Antonopoulou, Efi Avrami, Nikos Belomatis, Darie Budeanu, Dimitris Delinikolas, Eleni Giannari, Kyriaki Goni, Zaharias Ioannidis, Nikos Kaimakamis, Aimilia Karamouzi, Achilleas Kentonis, Vaggelis Kolotsios, Lila Mastora, Tatiana Mihailidou, Nickos Myrtou, Maria Papacharalambous, Dimitris Psychogios, Maria Saridaki

Workshop Assistants:
Phill Sparks, Empedia locative walk implementation
Jackie Calderwood, video development and user evaluations

Workshop Coordinators:
Professor Michael Meimaris, Asst. Prof. Dimitris Charitos
Workshop Organiser and Curatorial Advisor:
Daphne Dragona

Exhibition Organised by:
National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) in collaboration with the University Research Institute of Applied Communication and the New Technologies Lab, of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

In the context of the “Global Gateway” action and of the EU-funded program “Civil Society Dialogue – Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture”

http://www.media.uoa.gr/hybridcity/

 

Installation Phoenix Cafebar

In Phoenix, the video installation on the café multiscreen allowed one to edit a unique journey through videos created specially for this commission. This video installation was a unique development using iPhone or iPad tones to control the nine video windows. Users could visit reception to borrow iPads to participate - they just had to plug into the wall fitting and then could edit their own journey through the videos.

The videos celebrated the concurrent exhibition at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, using film footage of journeys across narrative textile surfaces. The textiles were created by community groups and professional artists, with lead artist Ashok Mistry, for the ‘from Kampala to Leicester’ exhibition at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery.

The large wall graphic allowed the public to follow the audio trail in the comfort of Phoenix’s café. By scanning the QR codes they could trigger the audio commentary using iPads, iPhones or android phones.

Scene from Video: "The Fool" 

Poster and sticker examples

 

"Codes of disobedience & dysfunctionality"

Technology reconnecting the personal with the political in a contemporary metropolis

The University Research Institute of Applied Communication (URIAC) of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, in collaboration with the Laboratory of New Technologies in Communication, Education and the Mass Media (UoA NTLab), organise from the 28th until the 4th of March 2011 the workshop "Codes of Disobedience & Dysfunctionality" led by the British artist Martin Rieser, in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of artists, researchers and postgraduate students, as part of the action "Global Gateway" and of the EU funded program "Civil Society Dialogue - Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture".

The aim of the workshop is to study the elements of the urban environment of Athens and to form a new trail as a structure of narrative, thus enriching the city with interactive content that reflects its contemporary transformations. Inspired by the posters and the graffiti encountered in the city, and taking advantage of the possibilities given by mobile communication technologies (GPS, QR codes etc) and the internet, the workshop aims to connect the urban surroundings of Athens to opinions and statements of its inhabitants regarding the challenges imposed by current social, political, and financial circumstances; anger, disobedience, opposition, dysfunctionality. The features of the contemporary metropolis in the midst of a period of crisis will be the main focus of the project, posing at the same time questions about the role and mediation of technology in urban everyday life. Can the new possibilities offered by technology really capture the needs and the atmosphere of a city like Athens? Can patterns and characteristics of urban life be identified when studying the use of these communication systems?

The work that was created during the workshop was be presented at the premises National Museum of Contemporary Art, on the internet and in the center of the city (at Skoufa – Navarinou – Tzavela streets). From the 5th until the 25th of March the visitors of the museum and inhabitants of Athens were invited to follow the project’s trail and discover the different parts of the project’s narration. Special QR codes were placed in selected locations of the city and by scanning them with a mobile phone, access to the audiovisual material created during the workshop was given. Combining elements of installation art, urban intervention, gaming and performance, "Codes of Disobedience & Dysfunctionality" reflected Rieser’s long term practice on art and technology.

Trail
From Parliament to Anarchy

Using personal video testimony fromthe local community, the trail revisits the dramatic events of 2009 and sharesopinions about the economic crisis.The trail follows a route from Kolinaki along Navarinou, with QR codes located on stickers and posters on shops and windows along the route. Scanning the QR codes triggers the audio commentary telling the local story of the breakdown of societal trust.

To follow the trail, iPhone users should download an app from Empedia, via www.empedia.info. You can then follow the trail, scanning the QR codes located along the street to release audio information. Android phone users can follow the trail without downloading the app, provided they have a QR  code reader downloaded on their phone. For iPhone users, information on the trail can also be triggered by GPS position if this facility is active on your phone.