RAUL GSCHREY
Die kamera zeigt selten den horizont /The camera rarely shows the horizon
Performance (video, 3 min 10s, 2009)
Messages hand-written on translucent foil are fixed in front of CCTV camera lenses. The words, commenting on the mechanisms of surveillance, enter into a direct conversation with potential observers on the other side of the closed circuit.
Oskar
Performance (video, 7 min, 2010)
The nautical signal flag “Oskar”, signifying “man overboard”, is hoisted in a ceremonial way. The action can be understood as a call not to close one’s eyes to the many casualties on sea during attempts to cross borders. At the same time, the ritual of elevating and lowering flags, usually a form of encouraging nationalism, is called into question.
Raul Gschrey is a recent graduate of Goethe University, Frankfurt, where he studied English literature and culture as well as visual arts. He is a member of pro-these & spez.lab groups of independent artists. He gradually expands his current focus on surveillance and control to the examination of borders, border control and migration. Recent exhibitions and presentations include: ‘toll-ffm’ (Frankfurt, 2010) ‘Shape of the letter X’, Kaiser & Cream (Frankfurt, 2009), ‘Between fact and fiction – artistic works on surveillance’ and Border Documents Conference & CHP/DOX festival (Copenhagen, 2009).