[spectre] TRANSITIONERS, an exhibition by Société Réaliste, TRAFO Gallery, Budapest

[intelligence at societerealiste.net]

TRANSITIONERS

an exhibition by Société Réaliste
(Ferenc Gróf and Jean-Baptiste Naudy)

Trafó Gallery - Budapest

15 September – 15 October 2006

Opening: 15 September 2006, 7:00 pm

The TRANSITIONERS project starting point is the recent phenomenon of "Color
Revolutions." This very specific type of revolution began with the fall of the
Soviet Empire. They occur as a rule in post-communist countries, but also in
other territories marked by political authoritarianism. All these revolutions
have points in common: the demand for democracy, economic liberalism and
national independence. The leaders of these revolutions preach the development
of the Western political and economic model in their countries. All these
revolutions adopted a symbol which characterizes them, most of the time a
color, sometimes a flower.

These last fifteen years, the list of the color revolutions has grown
considerably. Some have succeeded in taking power, like the Rose Revolution in
Georgia, the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, the Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan,
the Bulldozer Revolution in Serbia or the Cedar Revolution in Lebanon. Others
characterize a historical evolution of the society, like the Violet Revolution
in Iraq or the Blue Revolution in Kuwait. Still other ones point out movements
of opposition which have not yet succeeded in overthrowing the old government,
like the Green Revolution in Azerbaijan, the Orange movement in Belarus, the
Grape Revolution in Moldova, the Yellow Revolution in Mongolia, the Bashkir
movement for an Orange Revolution in Bashkortostan (Russia) or the Farmers'
Revolution in Uzbekistan.

Often beginning with student movements and a massive rejection of dictatorial
regimes, these revolutions are supported by the West. This support is not only
diplomatic. For at least five years now, these revolutionary movements have
been largely financed and trained by the Western "political development" funds,
mainly American ones.

The TRANSITIONERS project does not intend to work on the "democratic" validity
of these revolutions or on the specific context of their emergence. The central
axis of this project is the bond between revolutionary mythology, traditionally
associated with a radical and spontaneous transformation of the society, and
its actual strategic planning. Although the Western democracies fought the
revolution model for more than two centuries, it has now become a development
principle for Western international interests. This transformation of the
revolutionary model is the basis of the TRANSITIONERS project.

The Paris-based artist group Société Réaliste operates a revolutionary
design-office assisting the preparation of political transformations by
providing appropriate tools, strategies and advice. The TRANSITIONERS project
takes the form of an installation, which is the TRANSITIONERS' showroom itself,
where the public can encounter the techniques and strategies required for
achieving the company’s mission.



Supporters: National Cultural Fund, Ministry of Education and Culture, C3
Foundation

info > www.trafo.hu > www.societerealiste.net

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