It was a kind of “reconnaissance in force”: to reveal the disposition, you push straight ahead and see what happens, then reconstruct the system of coordinates from the reaction. We kept moving forward, simply pushing our way ahead, to see how everything was organised.
Detail
A scheme of the administrative structure of Karlsruhe is embroidered on a towel as an explanation, of how the art projects are financed by the government of the city.
An impenetrable wall of institutionality has the passages inside: “Institutions are people.” Axel Heil figured it out as a response to the idea of using the Karlsruhe municipal cultural system as an artistic medium. “Ok, let us see,”: thought Marika and Anton, and soon a plan of intervention in the ZKM museum ripened. Having taken detailed instruction from friend Joachim who drew a diagram that outlined the ways of financing art projects and a scheme of the cultural department officials distributing money for art projects, M&A reckoned with his advice, and the diagram became the subject of a picture that Marika embroidered on a towel; the towel was given by Joachim when artists first arrived in Karlsruhe.
During the presentation of the object at the opening of the summer exhibition, the artists sat naked astride the art object and turned the pedals, inviting the audience to take part as well. When the Academy rector, Professor Caramelle, entered the room, he looked at it and said approvingly, “Keep going!” Then he left.
Derived English translation, 24 August 2026.
Related Works
