Preparation for MM-U Debating Chamber
Notes on the forthcoming Debating Chamber on Prototypes and Ominous Objects made during the Bureau d’Esprit, July 8, 2021
MM-U Methodology:
Adaptive, transforming art analytical method – visual, sensorial thinking
Decolonial: based on ‘academic iconoclasm’ – no classificatory divisions between artefacts and artworks
Context, to be mediated, and then immediately suspended
Personal histories (of collections and collectors) are suspended.
Documentation is understood as integral to fieldwork and presence
Events/Debating Chambers – are semi-public or private
Loans to include:
Erika Hoffmann’s inventory box if possible
Ivo Wessel’s Jenny Holzer speech boxes
Matt Mullican’s cubes or glass slides
Ana Prvacki’s prototype
Henrike’s NSDAP doll house, Bless’s samples, plus each of us to bring something to the table.
Tarek Atoui’s recordings of the port of Beirut
Hahne Niehoff: Archival photographs
Perhaps something from Museum der Dinge
And more…
MM-U Collection:
To build a body. A collection of organs. To think of the collection as an interdependent corpus, a metabolism. A new research collection created by members, with organs and their capital – mediated to the outside
Organ transplant: moving something that belongs to the vitality of one person to another body. A temporary holding. Emanates vitality, desire and divinatory potential
What is a Prototype – an unfinished generators: artefacts, images, words, books, scores, memories, etc…
Choreography of Debating Chambers
Debating Chambers are inserted into existing exhibitions or displays
Different moods and lighting
Tables or platforms for artefacts (establish what is needed beforehand and what needs to be built)
Audience seating or portable stools?
Fieldwork documentation: to be filmed by each of us and by Jakob Karpus and Thais Nepomuceno
Sound engineer for all the sound recordings (individual mics)
Guests to DCs: how many?
DC September: only 1 guest per member? Or 2?
Actions for the next weeks:
1. Smaller working groups for the following preparations of the Debating Chamber on September 20th:
Mise-en-scene of DC in exhibition – can be subdivided into platforms, seating, situation design.
Tables for artefacts? Cabinets, Reisekoffer?
Ines, Desiree, Augustin
Invitations to guests – communications with guests
Clémentine, Manuel, Margarete
Protocol for event:
Tom, Matthias
Augustin, Luke, Henrike, Bless
Documentation of event:
Krista Belle, Clémentine, Linda, Jakob Karpus
Each member to decide on their contribution for September.
Please prepare short text from their particular position (in art practice, art history, literature, composition, design, law etc. ) on the ‘Prototype’.
Date for submission of each person’s final concept/context for first DC: 30th August
Post Production:
Proceedings of the MM-U print format?
Online studio, library, workspace?
Works and writings that mediate the MM-U after the event
Elements of first DC to be transposed into November session