Happy New Fear

7th Berlin Biennale, 27.4.–1.7.2012; Bureau Mario Lombardo, Happy New Fear, 2012; action documentation; photo: Marta Gornicka

7th Berlin Biennale, 27.4.–1.7.2012; Bureau Mario Lombardo, Happy New Fear, 2012; action documentation; photo: Marta Gornicka

7th Berlin Biennale, 27.4.–1.7.2012; Bureau Mario Lombardo, Happy New Fear, 2012; action documentation; photo: Marta Gornicka

7th Berlin Biennale, 27.4.–1.7.2012; Bureau Mario Lombardo, Happy New Fear, 2012; action documentation; photo: Marta Gornicka

7th Berlin Biennale, 27.4.–1.7.2012; Bureau Mario Lombardo, Happy New Fear, 2012; action documentation; photo: Marta Gornicka

7th Berlin Biennale, 27.4.–1.7.2012; Bureau Mario Lombardo, Happy New Fear, 2012; action documentation; photo: Marta Gornicka

We dare to undertake an experiment. The question behind the test is:

• How can a written statement change depending on the context in which it is found. What happens to the election slogans of political parties when their context is removed and they appear in a window with the logo of the 7th Berlin Biennale?

With our experiment we want to investigate the limits of politics, art and election advertising. What is revealed is how the statements of the various parties can be exchanged and how arbitrary the advertising slogans and words are. Different sender, different aesthetic signal – different effect.

• What power does the language behind the actual text have?
• What reactions are caused by the use of particular fonts and signals?
• How do viewers respond, what memories, connotations are linked, what connections made?

The question behind our experiment and a basic issue for the 7th Berlin Biennale is: Should art actively get involved in current debates and be a critical voice in society or have an effect on the democratic processes in our society?

BUREAU Mario Lombardo