Art at the VIC
Besides its usual tasks the Permanent Mission is also involved in a number of projects, such as the project named “Untitled” of the group >etikett<. The realization and the financing of this project have been shared by the Permanent Mission, the Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affaires and the City of Vienna. With undertakings like this the Austrian Permanent Mission tries to be a link between the civil society and the United Nations. Additionally, it tries on the one hand to support young artists and on the other to draw the attention of the society to current UN topics and provide a special approach to these subjects. </P>
The group >etikett< has been conceived as a temporary artist’s network, varying its members according to the specific needs or scope of specific projects. Members from countries like Poland, Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic and other Central European Countries have already worked within this project. The artists group >etikett< ironically orientates itself at the market’s practice of creating labels which are supposed to stand for products, brand name philosophies or life style. >etikett< tries to use this highly effective communication method for its own purposes. By simply transferring these strategies back to the area of art and life, the labels are not distilled for a product, but for a subject relevant to society. </P>
On the occasion of the “Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime” in July 2004, the artists group organized for the second time already an exhibition at a neuralgic nodal point in Vienna, the big rotunda of the UN building, at the interface of Austria and 192 Nations. >etikett< thematised the consequences for civil society, as strategies against threatening scenarios like international terrorism of transnational organized crime. This time >etikett< is pointing to the topic of surveillance thus setting a critical counterpoint to the event. </P>
Five large balls painted to resemble eyes or eyeballs and measuring approximately 1,40 m in diameter have been positioned on the floor of the rotunda. They seemingly stare, watch or focus the visitors. What is the purpose of these huge objects with which one might also associate surveillance cameras in supermarkets and other public spaces? Eyes? Maybe decorative objects of design? Ort kind of space dividers, guiding participants of the Conference? Inconspicuous playing balls? Could these balls roll over somebody? The visitors in the end are left uncertain about that. On the floor a big label has been positioned which resembles a type of company label associated with a private security firm. Real or invented logo? In a video a woman is talking about eyes and surveillance. A surreal dramaturgy.
Two years ago, in June 2002 >etikett< already realised an installation at the rotunda on occasion of the Conference: “Combating International Terrorism; The Contribution of the United Nations”. </P>
For this year another projects of this artists group planned in cooperation with the Permanent Mission, the Austrian Foreign Ministry and City of Vienna.
