Home
TV Installation, 1996, Grazer Kunstverein.
3tv
program (3min.), exhibition of the photos of TV-spectators, lotto.
The project
involved the organization of a short TV program. The principle of the
program was to deal with the idea of "television" involving
personal action, for example such as takes place in educational TV programmes
in which a viewer is instructed how to prepare a specific meal, or even
how to make a painting. At the same time the process of producing the
"home-TV-installation" was conducted in the language of contemporary
art, specifically utilising the banalization of that language.
The realisation consisted of what
could be called an actual penetration of a regular TV-program. First,
the artist, here appearing as a speaker, gave careful instructions on
how viewers should organise the space around their TV-sets -thus
creating a "home-TV-installation" creating a special view
for them (a procedure ostensibly designed to help them better follow
the program). The instructions consisted of advice on how to make a
home-TV-installation using objects usually present
in the home. For example: "take a book and place it on the left
side of the TV; to the right side please place one apple; place a few
of your house-plants in front of the TV......." I proposed
several such models, based on my own logic. When the spectators completed
their installations they were invited to take photos of the installations
and send them to the exhibition address, together with their names and
addresses. In order to stimulate them in that direction, I offered a
typical TV-lotto game where the winner gets a prize. During the exhibition
in the Grazer Kunstverein, I received about 100 photos
from participants in this special "lotto".
The award for
the winner was a choice between
a five minute appearance on live TV or a small pocket TV-set.