Hi,
my name is Oliver Ressler, I have been working on a couple of political
art projects over the last years. Information on these projects can be
found at http://www.ressler.at
I just finished the first version of a new project, an ongoing
exhibition called "Alternative Economics, Alternative Societies", which
will for the first time be presented to the public in Ljubljana in
Slovenia on Wednesday. Christoph Spehr was so nice to talk about his
ideas of "Free Cooperation" for this project, when we met in July in
Bremen, and this interview is the basis of one of five videos I realized
for the exhibition. If anybody is interested I could send the
transcription of the video with Christoph through email.
There is some information about the whole exhibition below.
Best
Oliver

Alternative Economics, Alternative Societies
A project by Oliver Ressler
Galerija Skuc, Ljubljana (SI)
Opening: Wednesday, 29 October, 8 p.m.
30 October – 29 November 2003
www.galerija.skuc-drustvo.siAfter the loss of a countermodel for capitalism – which socialism, in
its real, existing form had presented until its collapse – alternative
concepts for economic and social development are facing difficulties at
the beginning of the twenty-first century. In the industrial nations,
"alternatives” are only broadly discussed when they do not question the
existing power relations of the capitalist system and representative
democracies. Other socio-economic approaches are, on the other hand,
labeled utopian, devalued, and excluded from serious discussion if even
considered at all.
In the framework of the theme-specific installation, "Alternative
Economics, Alternative Societies,” focus will be on diverse concepts,
models, and utopias for alternative economies and societies which all
share a rejection by the capitalist system of rule. For each concept, an
interview will be carried out from which an English video will be
produced. In the exhibition, these single-channel 20 to 37 minute videos
will each be shown on a separate monitor thus forming the central
element of the artistic installation.
The project presents alternative social and economic models such as
"Inclusive Democracy” from Takis Fotopoulos (GB/GR), "Participatory
Economy” from Michael Albert (U.S.A.), and "Free Cooperation” from
Christoph Spehr (G). Nancy Folbre (U.S.A.) speaks about her concept of
"Caring Labor,” and Marge Piercy (U.S.A.) discusses the
feminist-anarchist utopias of her social fantasies. As an interesting
historical model, the workers’ self-management in Yugoslavia in the
sixties and seventies is thematized in the exhibition by Todor Kuljic
(SCG). In the further course of the project, models developed in other
specific historical contexts such as "La Commune” in Paris (1870-1871)
and the workers’ collectives during the Spanish Civil War (1936-38) will
be thematized.
Chosen for each video will be one quotation significant for the
alternative model that it presents. The quote will be placed directly on
the floor and the walls of the exhibition room as a several meter long
text piece. This floor lettering, made from adhesive film, leads
exhibition visitors directly to the corresponding videos, yet the quotes
also overlap one another and subdivide the room into different sections.
The exhibition project will be continually expanded in the coming years
through further economic and social concepts. These form a
non-hierarchically arranged pool, which offers stimulus and suggestions
for contemplation of social alternatives and possibilities for action.
The installation "Alternative Economics, Alternative Societies” is
planned as a series of exhibitions, regularly expanded by new videos."Alternative Economics, Alternative Societies” is a project realized in
the framework of republicart (www.republicart.net), coordinated by
Gregor Podnar and produced in cooperation with the Kunstraum der
Universität Lüneburg. The project is supported by the EU-Program Culture
2000, the BKA section for the arts, the cultural ministry of the
Republic of Slovenia, and the cultural department of the city of Ljubljana.