Hello to everybody on the list!
we would like to introduce ourselves and give a short description of our
upcoming event in Graz, 21.11.-
23.11.03Farida Heuck, Ralf Homann, Manuela UnverdorbenSince 1998 we are realising actions and projects together, first within the
group [cross the border], part
of the campaign „no one is illegal“, in Munich/Germany, later in different
contexts. We are working on an
artistic approach that is questioning the representation, motives and forms
of migration, of crossing
borders. In this proceeding, we are also interested to examine the
possibilities of transfers and co-
operations between the fields of art, science and political activism.
Currently we are mainly working on a project called:
Bundesverband schleppen&schleusen
(national association of refugee smuggling)
- schleuser.net - Mobility is our Aim!
The Bundesverband schleppen & schleusen is a lobby organization for
enterprises specialized in
undocumented cross-border human traffic. The focus of the association lies
on how mobility of persons
across geographical borders is developing and being treated in parallel with
the presumably free flow of
goods and digital data and on the restrictive measures in the area of border
protection, the reasons
behind them and their effects. Schleuser.net works for the peculiarities and
needs of the undocumented
travel market to be, free of any value, realized by a greater part of the
public and to affect the
discussion about geographical borders and migration. Our work concentrates
on a variety of spheres of
activity, from the normal workload of a lobby organisation, to the support
of affiliated institutions or even
the extensive exchange with the field of art. Along with these activities we
view schleuser.net, above all,
as a place to reflect on migration, mobility and borders, as well as a way
of testing artistic possibilities
for action in the context of state authority symbols. The appropriation of
structures and procedures (as
used e.g. by a lobby) to achieve specific aims does not take place solely on
a symbolic level. The change
in thinking, in medial and symbolic productions that are increasingly
determined by political policy, are
the direct starting point for our artistic approach.
Over the last years, schleuser.net has intensified its co-operations on an
interdisciplinary level, usually
offering offer a whole range of talks, trainings and lectures by our
experts, both theoretical as well as
practical. 2002 we started at the art society in Munich a training series
under the topic ‘escape aid-a new
light on an old profession’. We are now looking forward to continue this
series in Graz with the “Erste
Internationale Schleusertagung” (First International Conference on escape
aid) at Forum Stadtpark
(21.11. -23.11.2003).
The aim of the conference in Graz is to continue forming a network of
information and position in
the context of undocumented travels in practice and theory, but also to
discuss new strategies of
cooperations and to question the relationship between art and politics.
Farida Heuck, Ralf Homann, Manuela Unverdorben
Communication team – schleuser.net
more information on schleuser.net:
www.schleuser.net
more information on the conference:
http://forum.mur.at