An interactive exhibition with artists from UK
FAX TO THE ARTISTS:
Dear Foreign Investment,
The issues concerning your exhibition “Gold for every Body” is as follows.
Please send your confirmation.
1.Date of the exhibition:
October 2nd (Thursday) to November 1st (saturday) 1997
Invitation text:
Front: Black-White Photo + GOLD for every BODY*
Back: (Turkish & English together )
Foreign Investment presents /sunar
GOLD-EX-CHANGE / ALTIN BORSASI
GOLD for every BODY* / Her gövde için ALTIN (?)
*trade in stuff for gold / altın karşılığında değiş-tokuş
2 October/Ekim- 1 November/Kasım 1997
Opening/Açılış: 2 October / Ekim 18.00-21.00 / 6-9 pm
From 3rd to 9th October opening hours of the exhibition are 12 am to 9 pm; trading hours are 6-9 pm.
From 10th October on the gallery hours are 11.00 am to 6 pm.
3 Ekim-9 Ekim arasında sergi 12.00-21.00 arasında açıktır; değiş-tokuş 18.00-21.00 arasında yapılacaktır.
Bu tarihten sonra sergi Pazar dışında hergün 11.00-18.00 arasında açıktır.
BM Çağdaş Sanat Merkezi/BM Contemporary Art Center
Akkavak sok.1/1 80200 Nişantaş-Istanbul-Turkey
Tel & Fax : 0212 231 10 23
e-mail: btmadra@turk.net
(As soon as you confim this text, the invitation will be produced!)
Preparation of the space:
-The walls should be covered with black cloth or paper ; it will be very difficult to paint white on black paint afterwards.
-The door can be closed with a black curtain.
-I will try to find a round table or produce it!
-12 Chairs will be provided.
-Hanging lamp will be provided.
-Small table for torches will be provided.
-Radio+TV and Video monitor and camera available.
-Newspapers will be collected.
Press Release:
The press release + slides I am going to send to the magazines and journals will be short and as follows:
Press Release:
The press release + sildes I am going to send to the magazines and journals will be short and as follows:
Foreign Investment sunar
GOLD for every BODY / Her Gövde için ALTIN
2 Ekim-1 Kasım 1997
BM Çağdaş Sanat Merkezi
Londra’da yaşayan ve beş kişiden oluşan Foreign Investment’in BM Çağdaş Sanat Merkezi’ndeki eylemi ve yapıtı, bir sergi olmaktan öte, izleyiciyi doğrudan doğruya katılıma çağıran bir etkinlik. Grup, Istanbul’da malzemesi altın olan bir üretim gerçekleştirecek ve bu üretimi değiş-tokuşa sunacak.
2-9 Ekim tarihleri arasında Foreign-Investment grubu BM çağdaş Sanat Merkezi’nde hergün saat 12.00-21.00 arasında hazır bulunarak çalışacak ve yine hergün saat 18.00-21.00 arasında ALTIN karşılığında bir değiş tokuş eylemini gerçekleştirecek. Bu değiş-tokuş etkinliğine katılmak isteyenler 1 Ekim tarihinden itibaren BM Çağdaş Sanat Merkezi’nden bilgi alabilirler.
Foreign Investment, kendini tanıtmak için Istanbul izleyicisine şu ön mesajı gönderiyor:
“ Biz yabancıyız, İngiliz vatandaşıyız, hastabakıcıyız, politikacıyız, taksi şoförüyüz, vergi mükellefiyiz, marksistiz, alış-verişçiyiz, yolcuyuz, ev kadınıyız, kumarbazız, militanız, Samiriyeliyiz, muhasebeciyiz, cam silicisiyiz, gönüllü bakıcıyız, sigara içeriz, öğretmeniz, aşığız, koruma görevlisiyiz, köktenciyiz, (bekar) anneyiz ve büyük anneyiz, yıldızız…”
5.The second press release I am going to send to the newspapers will be slightly longer than that.
6.The ultimate press release we will distribute by hand or with the invitation will be longer. English press release will be prepared accordingly.
7.I will send you my contribution for the catalogue, probably next week!
8.About the catalogue, essential question is: Do you have funds to cover the catalogue? Please use the same size as the catalogue of Sermin Sherif; number of pages are optional.
9. Please make the arrival and accomodation program; one room + bath is available in my house. My mother will be pleased to accommodate 2 persons + private bath + excellent food+ she speaks English; she lives on the Asian side, 45 minutes by bus or 30 minutes by sea-bus !
I am making short holidays. 0212 231 10 23 takes oral messages. 0212 247 48 52 takes fax messages. E-mail is available.
With my love to all of you.
Sincerely.
Beral Madra
Concept Text
WORDS MAKE UP THE TEXT
This was a dialogue with my computer. Thesaurus in Tools answered my questions. I started with Foreign Investment, I got the related words. I registered them by indicating the computers first choice with Capital Plain Bold , meanings with Small Plain and my choice with Capital Plain. I made my choice according to my knowledge about Foreign Investment. I knew that it is a nonconventional group of women not born in Britain but living in London. Sometimes I controlled the computer by avoiding repetitions, by pressing it onward and by manipulating it to reveal more meanings. Through the decisions within the maze of words I came to the word unconventional and stopped; I was convinced. Then I looked up for Gold Investment. I used the same method. I knew that it is profitable, so I stopped when I found the word profitable. Inbetween I conceived a story which I will not reveal. I only indicated the words within my choice which I used in my story in Italics. Every Body should compose his/her own text; there are more than the required amount of words and expressions.
WHAT IS FOREIGN INVESTMENT ?
FOREIGN INVESTMENT
computers choice (not found, only related words):
foreign matter: impurity, extraneous matter, adulteration, blemish, speck, dirt, contamination, pollution, defilement
foreign sale: international trade, exportation, commodity for sale abroad, foreign trade, overseas shipment, transoceanic cargo, shipping, international trading, export
foreign tissue: medical operation, heart transplant, liver transplantr, kidney transplant, skingraft, cardiac transplant, transplanting, donated organ
foreign made: import, transnational, exotic, imported, transnational
foreign sounding: fascinating, romantic, strange, unusual, exotic, mysterious, wondrous, different, bizarre
FOREIGN
computers choice:
from another country: alien, from abroad, exotic, different, unfamiliar, outlandish, unknown, immigrant
extraneous: irrelevant, not pertinent, not related, inassimilable, heterogeneous, extrinsic, unusual, out of place
INVESTMENT
computers choice:
capital: venture, financing, risk, grant, stake, interest, share, property
empower: endow, authorize, qualify, vest
initiate: inaugurate, induct, install
enfold: envelope, wrap, enshroud, enclose
infuse: imbue, level
my choice: ALIEN
computers choice: strange, adverse, stranger, creature from outer space
strange: unusual, abnormal, bizarre, odd, peculiar, extraordinary, inexplicable, irregular, mysterious
adverse: hostile, opposed, unallied, extraneous, unconnected, unfriendly, different, remote
stranger: foreigner, immigrant, visitor from abroad, newcomer, refuge, non-citizen, interloper
creature from outer space: martian, little green men
my choice: IMMIGRANT
computers choice:
settler from abroad: new comer, adoptive citizen, non-native, alien, outsider, naturalized citizen
my choice: IMPURITY
computers choice:
impure: immoral, desecrated, dirty
immoral: unchaste, unclean, dirty, defiled, polluted, profaned, common, dirty, filthy, foul, squalid, black, corrupt, villainous, amoral, depraved, evil, licentious, profligate, sinful
my choice: CONTAMINATION
computers choice:
pollute: debase, adulterate, inflect,defile, befoul, poison, taint
my choice:DONATED ORGAN
computers choice:
donation: gift, benefaction, alms, boon, beneficence, contribution, charity, grant,
gift: present, favor, gratuity, largess, offering, bequest, boon, bounty
ability: talent, capability, faculty, forte, genius, power, aptness, bent
don: clothe, assume, get into, draw on, enrobe, get on, huddle, put on, slip
my choice: EXOTIC
computers choice:
fascinating: delightful, charming, interesting, engaging, appealing, attractive
allure: bewitch, beguile, captivate, enthrall, charm, enamor, enchant, enrapture
overpower: subdue, enslave,seduce, entice, snare, tempt
excite: titillate, stimulate, thrill, intoxicate, tantalize
mesmerize: hypnotize, fascinate, grip, hold, spell bind, entrance, stupefy, control
my choice: ROMANTIC
computers choice:
fanciful: idyllic, imaginary, imaginative, extravagant, quixotic, fabulous, fictitious, fantastic
byronic
my choice: MYSTERIOUS
computers choice:
puzzling: abstruse, arcane, cabalistic, concealed, cryptic, dark, enigmatic, esoteric
enigmatic: mysterious, mystifying, obscure, uncertain, ambiguous, unclear, esoteric
difficult: abstruse, perplexing, hard, abstract, complicated, over one’s head, tough
enigma: conundrum, maze, poser, perplexity,problem
entanglement, question
perplex: bewilder, baffle, befog, confound, cap, confuse, marvel
my choice: DIFFERENT
computers choice:
unlike: distinct, altered, opposite, changed, special, contrary, contrasted, deviant
miscellaneous: odd, diverse, diversified, disparate, manifold, dissimilar, distant, sundry
novel: strange, startling, unconventional.
WHAT IS GOLD INVESTMENT ?
GOLD INVESTMENT
computers choice (not found, only related words):
gold alloy: precious metal, wealth, riches, goldcoin, heavy metal, golden trinkets, beaten gold, gold, gold plate
gold bar: cast metal, metal, ingot, pig iron, cube, bullion, casting, slug, slag
gold digger: extortionist, blackmailer, bloodsucker,usurer,vampire, thief, swindler
gold filling: dental work, tooth repair, amalgam, filling, cap, crown, root, canal, dental bridge
gold foil: very thin sheet of metal, leaf metal, aluminum foil, tin foil, gold leaf, lead foil
gold mine: godsend, windfall, bonanza, El Dorado, treasure trove, boon, treasury, treasure house
gold ore: mineral deposit, vein, ore deposit, lode, strike, mine, layer, stratum, mother lode
gold piece: legal tender, special money, copper coin, silver piece, currency
gold star: decal, adhesive label, sticky label, decalcobmania, emblem, seal, write-protect tab, sticker, colored dot
golden age: millennium, utopia, happiness, thousand years of peace, kingdom come, heaven on earth
gold colored: color, deep yellow, flaxen, gold, ochroid, aureate, wheat colored, yellow, dark yellow
golden: fair, fair haired, blond, pale, straw, flaxen light, ivory, platinum
golden calf: image, symbol, icon, false god, statue, idol
golden fish: denizen of the deep, flounder, bass, trout, whitefish, sturgeon, carp, angelfish
gold bearing: valuable, pay, interest, bearing, precious, profitable
my choice: WEALTH
computers choice:
riches: fortune, treasure, affluence, cash, assets, property, resources, goods
abundance: profusion
plenty: copiousness, bounty, fertility, flood, plenteousness, owerflow, prodigality, profusion
generosity: munificence, fullness
charity: beneficence, philantrophy, bountenousness, hospitality, largesse, liberality, benevolence
magnanimity: unselfishness, altruism, kindness, high-mindedness
my choice: EXTORTIONIST
computers choice:
extortion: coercion, ransom, protection racket, tribute exacted under duress, bribe, hush money, payoff
vampire: reanimated corpse, bloodsucker, living corpse, monster, the undead, count dracula, ghoul, fiend
my choice: GODSEND
computers choice:
good fortune: advantage, benefit, stroke of luck, windfall, asset, boon, blessing, lucky breaks
blessing: benison, consecration, Eucharist, divine, approval, divine sanction, baptism, benediction, sanctification, unction
consecrate: sanctify, hallow, anoint, cross, pray for
endow: give, bestow, grace, grant, provide, favor
my choice: STRIKE
computers choice:
hit: beat, slap, knock, biff, buffet, clout, pound
light: lignite, inflame, burn
impress: affect, overwhelm
picket: boycott, oppose, resist,stop, quit
discover: unearth, find, uncover
my choice: KINGDOM COME
computers choice:
paradise: bliss, Elysian fields, Elysian, beyond, heaven, Arcadia, New Jerusalem, Nirvana, Valhalla, Eden, celestial home
bliss: ecstasy, rapture, delight, glory, transport, joy, supreme happiness, blessedness
my choice: FAIR
computers choice:
impartial: evenhanded, disinterested, righteous, candid, equitable, objective, dispassionate, honest
average: mediocre, ordinary, middling, passable, reasonable, tolerate
promising: favorable, hopeful, likely
rainless: bright, placid, clarion, cloudless, calm, pleasant, fine, balmy
distinct: clear, frank, open, plain, unencumbered, unobstructed
principled: clean, sincere, sportsmanlike, pure, above-board, sportmanly, spotless, trusted.
My choice: FALSE GOD
computers choice:
representation: figure, likeness, semblance, form, icon, ideol, statue, reflection
idea: notion, conception, perception, mental picture
facsimile: copy, match, mirror, counterpart, reflection, ringer
imagine: conceive, depict, portray, describe
my choice: PAY
computers choice:
earnings: allowance, commission, emolument, fee, pittance, income, payment, renumeration
reward: trophy, just deserts, medal, punishment, medallion, requital, laurel, crown
compensate: refund, guerdon, indemnity, recompense, disburse, reimburse
return: be profitable to, repay, pay off, yield, show gain, kick back
retaliate: punish, revenge
suffer: be punished, make amends, make compensation
valuable: gold-bearing, interst bearing, precious, profitable
PRESS RELEASE
GOLD-X-CHANGE
GOLD for every BODY
trade in stuff for gold
2nd October-1st November 1997
opening 2nd October 6-9 pm
BM CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER
Five women artists from London, disseminating the idea of the individual artist decided to be seen as one body. They named themselves Foreign Investment. They specially attracted the attention of London art circles with their one day interactive work “Breeding” (Civilization and its Discontents) which they realized in Nutmeg House (Butler’s Wharf, London SE 1) January 7th. Sealed and signed 1000 eggs were displayed on the floor of the space waiting for the intervention of the audience. A portable kitchen was installed to serve the ones who wanted to consume their eggs. Foreign Investment was obliged to sell the unconsumed eggs back to restaurants or groceries at the same day. Their current manifestation is as follows:
foreigners invest!
To invest as foreigner
to invest in(to) the foreign
to invest the foreign
This auspicious and select group were driven together by destiny, the melting of poles, the urgent imperatives of a world in which art has been staled by property and commodification, and in which shared authenticity is rare. Some members, coming together from various religions, first met on a cruise of the Nile in 1995, others were introduced on a Tupper-wear-party in London, became friends, established a union, a knitting-league, a bridge club of five female artists.
We are, foreigners, british citizens, nurses , politicians, drivers, taxpayers, marxists, shoppers, travelers, housewives, gamblers, militants, Samaritans, accountants, window-cleaners, housesitters on benefit, smokers, teachers, lovers, body-guards, radicals, (sigle) mothers and grandmothers, stars…
Our foremost task is the vital process of developing and realizing new concepts, principles and manifestos: A grueling agenda of public engagements will include art interventions and exhibitions, speeches in Hyde Park, poses and performances, intimate interactions, Guerilla actions, luxurious dinners and excursions to threatened beauty spots (such as the Mars). Spontaneity cannot be underestimated, it is a vital part of our work and is therefore executed with meticulous care. Each member holds a serious and established reputation as practicing artist and individualist. The contest of our various languages, cultures, practices and experiences becomes each time again the foundation and the reason of an event or a work as colloboration.
The exhibition Foreign Investment is going to realize in BM Contemporary Center is an extension on these thoughts with the emphasis on the exchange of values in art and in everyday life. The artists will work in the gallery space between 2nd and 9th October. The audience is invited to trade from 6 to 9 pm. A video related to the concept of the exhibition is being produced in London and will be shown in bars, restaurants and cafes.
For detailed information please contact:Beral Madra: BM Contemporary Art Center / Akkavak sok 1/1 80200 Nişantaş-Istanbultel: 0212 231 10 23 / fax: 0212 247 4852 / e-mail btmadra@turk.net
Basın Bülteni
Foreign Investment sunar
GOLD for EVERY BODY
HERKEZ için ALTIN
Tarih: 2 Ekim-1 Kasım 1997
Yer: BM Çağdaş Sanat Merkezi
Londra’da yaşayan, beş sanatçıdan oluşan ve kendilerini
Foreign Investment olarak tanıtan grubun Ekim ayında,
BM Çağdaş Sanat Merkezi’ndeki eylemi ve yapıtı, bir sergi olmaktan öte, izleyiciyi doğrudan doğruya katılıma çağıran bir etkinlik. Grup, Istanbul’da malzemesi “altın” olan yapıtlar gerçekleştirecek ve bu üretimi değiş-tokuşa sunacak.
2-9 Ekim tarihleri arasında
Foreign-Investment
BM çağdaş Sanat Merkezi’nde hergün saat 12.00-21.00 arasında hazır bulunarak çalışacak ve yine hergün saat 18.00-21.00 arasında “ALTIN” karşılığında bir değiş tokuş eylemini gerçekleştirecek.
Bu değiş-tokuş etkinliğine katılmak isteyenler
1 Ekim tarihinden itibaren BM Çağdaş Sanat Merkezi’nden bilgi alabilirler.
Foreign Investment, kendini tanıtmak için Istanbul izleyicisine şu ön mesajı gönderiyor:
“ Biz yabancıyız, Ingiliz vatandaşıyız, hastabakıcıyız, politikacıyız, taksi şoförüyüz, vergi mükellefiyiz, marksistiz, alış-verişçiyiz, yolcuyuz, ev kadınıyız, kumarbazız, militanız, Samiriyeliyiz, muhasebeciyiz, cam silicisiyiz, gönüllü bakıcıyız, sigara içeriz, öğretmeniz, aşığız, koruma görevlisiyiz, köktenciyiz, (bekar) anneyiz ve büyük anneyiz, yıldızız…”
BM Çağdaş Sanat Merkezi
Akkavak sok.1/1 80200 Nişantaş
Tel: 0212 231 10 23 Faks: 0212 247 48 52
e-posta: btmadra@turk.net
YABANCI YATIRIMCILAR
Londra’da yaşayan beş kadın sanatçıdan oluşan ve kendilerini Foreign Investment (Yabancı Yatırım) olarak tanıtan grubun BM Çağdaş Sanat Merkezi’ndeki bir haftalık eylemi ve bu eyleme bağlı olarak gerçekleştirdikleri yerleştirme, bir sergi olmaktan öte, izleyiciyi doğrudan doğruya katılıma çağıran bir etkinlik. Grup, Istanbul’da malzemesi “altın” olan yerleştirmesini izleyicilerle değiş-tokuşa sunuyor. Sergi, aynı zamanda, sanatçıların bir hafta boyunca galeride toplanarak çalışmalarını da içerdiği için, bir “work-shop” niteliği de taşıyor. Sanatçılar sergi sırasında düşünsel ve nesnel üretim gerçekleştirdikleri için, serginin bir süreç olduğunu da söylemek gerekir; bu süreçte izleyicinin katılımı ve ilgisi de önemli bir yer tutuyor.
Çeşitli ülkelerde doğmuş, çeşitli özel nedenlerle Londra’ya yerleşmiş, olan bu sanatçıların birlikte çalışmalarının temelinde ortak çıkarlar, düşünceler, tavırlar olduğu kadar rastlantılar da var. Sanatçılar ortak yanlarını şöyle tanımlıyor:
“Biz yabancıyız, Ingiliz vatandaşıyız, hastabakıcıyız, politikacıyız, taksi şoförüyüz, vergi mükellefiyiz, marksistiz, alış-verişçiyiz, yolcuyuz, ev kadınıyız, kumarbazız, militanız, Samiriyeliyiz, muhasebeciyiz, cam silicisiyiz, gönüllü bakıcıyız, sigara içeriz, öğretmeniz, aşığız, koruma görevlisiyiz, köktenciyiz, (bekar) anneyiz ve büyük anneyiz, yıldızız…”
Bu ortak özellikler kuşkusuz bütün dünya kadınlarında var; ancak bunların sanatsal eyleme dönüşmesi için bazı koşulların yerine getirilmesi gerekiyor. Öncelikle bunların günlük yaşamın tekdüzeliği ve olağanlığı içinden ayıklanıp masaya yatırılması söz konusu. Bu masa, düşüncelerin, yorumların, eleştirilerin, duyguların savaş ve barış alanı gibi…Çok yönlü tartışmalar bu özellikleri didik didik etmek için yararlı. Bu düşünsel ve sözsel çalışma sırasında düşünmek ve konuşmak eylemlerinin olanaklarına sığmayan, başka biçimler gerektiren oluşumlar ortaya çıkabiliyor; bunlar bir bakıma bu özelliklerin benzetileri ya da bu ritüelleştirilmiş karşılıkları.
2-9 Ekim tarihleri arasında
Foreign-Investment
BM çağdaş Sanat Merkezi’nde hergün saat 12.00-21.00 arasında hazır bulunarak çalışacak ve yine hergün saat 18.00-21.00 arasında “ALTIN” karşılığında bir değiş tokuş eylemini gerçekleştirecek.
Bu değiş-tokuş etkinliğine katılmak isteyenler
1 Ekim tarihinden itibaren BM Çağdaş Sanat Merkezi’nden bilgi alabilirler.
İZLEYİCİ/KATILIMCI İÇİN YÖNETMELİK
IYI AKŞAMLAR.
FOREIGN INVESTMENT’IN ALTIN DEĞIŞ-TOKUŞUNA HOŞ GELDINIZ.
ISTEDIĞINIZ NESNEYI ELINIZE ALABILIRSINIZ..
BIR NESNEYI YANINIZDA TAŞIDIĞINIZ BIR NESNEYLE DEĞIŞ-TOKUŞ YAPABILIRSINIZ.
BIR SIYAH PARLATMA BEZI ALIN.
MASADAN SEÇTIĞINIZ NESNEYI PARLATIN.
SONRA BU NESNEYLE BIRLIKTE KÜÇÜK MASAYA GIDIN.
LÜTFEN ORADAKI DEFTERE ADINIZI, TARIHI, SAATI, SEÇTIĞINIZ NESNENIN TANIMINI, KENDI NESNENIZIN TANIMINI YAZIN.
LÜTFEN KENDI NESNENIZI MASANIN YANINDAKI SANDIĞA KOYUN.
BUGÜN TOPLANAN DEĞIŞ-TOKUŞ NESNELERI YARINKI DEĞIŞ-TOKUŞA KATILACAK.
BUNDAN SONRAKI BEŞ GÜN, 18.00-21.00 ARASINDA BIR ALTIN DEĞIŞ-TOKUŞU OLACAK.
BU YATIRIMIN HOŞUNUZA GITTIĞINI UMUT EDIYORUZ.
TEŞEKKÜR EDERIZ. IYI GECELER
