.28Counter-.29monuments.2C collaborations and public authorship pieces Jochen Gerz

1 (counter-)monuments, collaborations , public authorship pieces

1.1 monument against fascism, hamburg-harburg (jochen gerz , esther shalev-gerz, 1986)
1.2 2146 stones – monument against racism, saarbrücken (1993)
1.3 living monument of biron (1996)
1.4 berkeley oracle – questions unanswered (1997)
1.5 words of paris (les mots de paris, 2000)
1.6 future monument, coventry (2004)
1.7 2-3 streets. exhibition in cities of ruhr district (2-3 straßen. eine ausstellung in städten des ruhrgebiets, 2008–11)
1.8 square of european promise (platz des europäischen versprechens, bochum 2004–15)

(counter-)monuments, collaborations , public authorship pieces

jochen gerz became known audiences beyond art world way of public pieces, created of participants and, indeed, made possible contribution. since 1986 has realised numerous public authorship pieces, including several unusual (disappearing , invisible) memorials in urban contexts, referred “counter-monuments” or anti-monuments. these memorial works reject surrogate function. hand duty of memorialising public, consuming through own temporality , disappearing, reappear within apparent paradox of “invisible monument”.

monument against fascism, hamburg-harburg (jochen gerz , esther shalev-gerz, 1986)

the “monument against fascism” (hamburg-harburg, 1986–93) social experiment uncertain outcome: “either monument ‘works’, is, made superfluous public’s own initiative, or remains monument own failure, (as) writing on wall.” of 12-metre-high, lead-clad column installed in 1986 in hamburg district of harburg, one-square-metre lead plate, cap of column, has been visible since 1993, along information board. monument has sunken ground. photo sequence documents process of disappearance. invitation participate says: “we invite citizens of harburg, , visitors town, add names here ours. in doing commit ourselves remain vigilant. more , more names cover 12 metre tall column, gradually lowered ground. 1 day have disappeared completely, , site of harburg monument against fascism empty. in end ourselves can stand against injustice.”

the active participation , appropriation, took wide variety of forms, led disappearance of visible object on years. covered 70,000 names, entries , graffiti (x loves y or “foreigners out!”) , strikeouts. swastikas , traces of gunshots found in lead coating. artist commented: “people, not monuments, places of memory.” elsewhere, jochen gerz noted: “as reflection of society, monument doubly challenging, in not reminds society of things past, – , unsettling – of own reaction past.”

2146 stones – monument against racism, saarbrücken (1993)

starting in april 1990, 66 jewish communities in both german states invited contribute monument providing names of jewish cemeteries burials had been performed until 1933. group of students art academy of saarbrücken, gerz removed during night cobblestones promenade leading saarbrücken castle, seat of regional parliament , former regional nazi administration. replaced stones in alley while engraving names of jewish cemeteries removed stones before returning them had been taken from. however, stones placed inscription facing down, square remained unchanged , monument invisible. complete number of cemeteries contributed jewish communities had grown 2 years later 2146. monument in hamburg-harburg, saarbrücken monument not visible, must realised each person’s own imagination. unlike harburg monument, however, 1 not created commissioned work rather secret , illegal initiative retroactively legalised regional parliament. saarbrücken castle square called square of invisible monument .

the living monument of biron (1996)

the commission french ministry of culture unusual: german artist chosen “replace” memorial had been killed in first , second world wars in dordogne village of biron, 1944 massacre ss still far forgotten. jochen gerz renewed obelisk , plaques names of fallen, , asked every villager same question, asked not reveal. 127 anonymous replies enamelled onto brass plaques , affixed new obelisk. 2 examples:

“life makes sense. kill or give one’s life same; doesn’t make sense today or yesterday. life everything: pleasure, joy, duty. mustn’t put in danger. understand people knew war don’t see same way. however, think wouldn’t change mind. doesn’t bother me @ know others here know think.”

“war not beautiful. destroys poor people. peace doesn’t last long; wars have existed, can start again @ time: front, death, restrictions. don’t know can peace. need whole world agree it. when twenty want live, , when go front, go slaughter. worst part pays. making money lives of others, it’s sad!”

even after inauguration, number of plaques on “living monument” continue grow. new , young villagers answer “secret question” , carry on village’s dialogue present , past.

the berkeley oracle – questions unanswered (1997)

“the berkeley oracle” tribute 1968 student movement spread university of berkeley campus many european cities. many of values held during time have long since become today’s status quo. spirit of awakening, however, has dissipated. in 1997 following invitation published online on website shared berkeley art museum , zkm center art , media in karlsruhe: “in homage times of questioning , change, invited contribute berkeley oracle urgent, unforgotten, new or never-asked questions.” beginning of 1970s, jochen gerz had begun grapple cultural technique of computer (“these words flesh & blood”, 1971), , in 1990s increasingly made use of possibilities offered digital communication (e.g. “the plural sculpture”, 1995; “the anthology of art”, 2001). “the berkeley oracle” allusion oracle @ delphi. world wide web new oracle?

“by neither promising nor delivering answers, berkeley oracle steps out of politics , philosophy, art. gerz invites participants space of questioning , leaves them there. space pyrrho of ellis called ‘epoché’, state of mental suspension in final knowledge of things understood impossible.”

the words of paris (les mots de paris, 2000)

“les mots de paris”, piece dealing turns romanticised , stigmatised existence of homeless people, realised mark new millennium. while in france once subject of films, poems , songs, known “clochards”, nowadays “sdf” (sans domicile fixe) banned not popular culture, french capital’s tourist hotspots. gerz hired 12 homeless people period of 6 months part of artwork , rehearsed exhibition them on visited square in paris – forecourt of notre-dame cathedral. in unusual exhibition local passers-by , tourists on world came face-to-face had become invisible. homeless people spoke openly lives “behind mirror” audience surprised , hesitantly entered dialogue them on poverty, social exclusion , role of art.

future monument, coventry (2004)

the “future monument” people of coventry’s comment on quite traumatic past. story 1 of enemies became friends. 6,000 citizens contributed project, offering statements @ once public , personal in response question: “who yesterday’s enemies?” city commemorated destruction in coventry blitz during second world war while @ same time discovering how many immigrants there in current population, , means have been colony (england named third.) named former enemies listed on 8 glass plaques on ground in front of glass obelisk:

to our german friends our russian friends our british friends our french friends our japanese friends our spanish friends our turkish friends our irish friends

2-3 streets. exhibition in cities of ruhr district (2-3 straßen. eine ausstellung in städten des ruhrgebiets, 2008–11)

as part of european capital of culture ruhr.2010 jochen gerz invited people live in ruhr region rent-free 1 year. 1,500 individuals germany, europe , overseas responded. cities of duisburg, dortmund , mülheim der ruhr provided 58 renovated apartments on “ordinary streets without special features” house total of 78 participants. streets located in difficult neighbourhoods vacant buildings, many immigrants , high levels of unemployment. purpose of one-year exhibition “2-3 streets” bring change streets creating collaborative text. result book written in 16 languages on 3,000 pages 887 authors, including both old , new inhabitants visitors 3 streets. @ end of 2-3 streets, half of participants chose remain , continue life together.

square of european promise (platz des europäischen versprechens, bochum 2004–15)

platz des europäischen versprechens, bochum 2015

the “square of european promise” likewise part of european capital of culture ruhr.2010 , commissioned in 2004 city of bochum. located in city centre, right next town hall. participants asked make promise europe, remains unpublished. instead of promises, names of authors on europe fill square in front of christ church, of tower, featuring surprising mosaic 1931 of germany’s 28 “enemy states” (england, france, usa, poland, russia, china ...) survived war. “square of european promise” holds total of 14,726 names. handed on public 11 years after inception, on 11 december 2015.