Requiem for Mobile Telephones V Requiem for Mobile Telephones V (5 June 2010) by Lubo KristekResearch Institute of Communication in Art
"Requiem for Mobile Telephones"
In 2007, Lubo Kristek initiated the happening cycle Requiem for Mobile Telephones to protest against the addiction to modern technology.
The happenings occured in the Czech Republic (2007), Austria (2007), Germany (2008), and Poland (2010).
Requiem for Mobile Telephones VResearch Institute of Communication in Art
The visitors were exhorted to renounce their ‘electronic pets'.
Requiem for Mobile Telephones II (26 April 2007)Research Institute of Communication in Art
The mobile phones were drilled through on a log with the writing ‘Sweet Dreams’ by a three-breasted angel. They became part of the artwork also bearing the title Requiem for Mobile Telephones.
Requiem for Mobile Telephones IV (10 May 2008)Research Institute of Communication in Art
Sacrifice
Within the happenings, Kristek treated the phones as if they were rubbish, yet simultaneously, he applied the principle of sacrifice. The worshipped was placed on an altar, torn to pieces and then it was reborn in the assemblage.
Requiem for Mobile Telephones II (26 April 2007)Research Institute of Communication in Art
The artist rode to the second happening at Vienna's Mariahilfer Straße on horseback.
Requiem for Mobile Telephones 2 (video) (26 April 2007) by Lubo KristekResearch Institute of Communication in Art
You can see the video of the happening
He already had mobiles from the previous event on his coat with a long veil.
Kristek invited a ballerina to capture dance patterns in the artwork.
He dipped her pointé shoes to the paint and let her dance on the canvas.
Requiem for Mobile Telephones II (26 April 2007)Research Institute of Communication in Art
The by-standers also added their mobiles to the composition.
Requiem for Mobile Telephones II (26 April 2007)Research Institute of Communication in Art
Children from Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic helped Kristek to paint the assemblage's background.
Interactive assemblage
The assemblage changed shape from event to event with help of public. After Vienna, the happening cycle continued at Barockschloss Riegersburg (2007), in the Neues Stadtmuseum in Landsberg am Lech, Germany (2008), and in 2010, in the City Museum in Sucha Beskydzka, Poland.
Requiem for Mobile Telephones VResearch Institute of Communication in Art
Protest against getting addicted
More and more people contributed to the protest against the addiction to modern technology.
The veil became full of mobile phones.
The drum membrane from the Vienna happening became part of the assemblage...
... as well as the ballerina’s pointé shoes.
Cothurni of the Three-Breasted Angel (2007) by Lubo KristekResearch Institute of Communication in Art
These cothurni worn by the the three-breasted angel during the happening series Requiem for Mobile Telephones became a collectable.
