The “glasnost” and the value of the selection process in “Open Call“ by Brina Thurston
Next Friday, 16 October, our last project S.o.S – Pension will be presented within the framework of Frieze Projects at the 2009 Frieze Art Fair, by the artist Brina Thurston (under Filipa Oliveira and Miguel Amado curatorship) as part of the project “Impossibile Exchange“, aimed to play on the transactional nature of the art fair. From their stand, visitors will be invited to engage in a number of activities that reverse or subvert the usual exchange of money for goods or services.

“Open Call” – Concept:
Brina Thurston’s Open Call considers the ostensibly democratic process by which art institutions invite artists to submit works to be considered for exhibition, but in which many factors other than quality and merit operate.
Transporting what happens behind closed doors to a public arena, this project consists of an open call to artists that are not included in the 2009 Frieze Art Fair and the presentation in a booth of all the proposals submitted for one day.
Thurston queries the existing logic of open calls by providing exposure opportunities for a range of artists outside of the gallery system and shifting the power of selection to the artist.
Space On Sail partecipated with over 400 artists over the world submitting its work S.o.S – Pension via the Internet.
The images will be organized and reviewed live at the booth of “Impossible Exchange“ by a panel of artists, curators, writers and general public.
As you know, It’s a common practice for today’s artist to submit their work to countless calls for exhibitions; what happens after their work is sent off is veiled process to which Open Call offers-up one possibility.
IN THIS CASE, WE ALL MADE IT INTO THE SHOW!
Frieze Art Fair takes place every October in Regent’s Park, London. The fair showcases new and established artists to an international audience.
From thursday 15 to sunady 18 October 2009 Frieze Art Fair will feature over 150 of the most exciting contemporary art galleries in the world. The fair also includes specially commissioned artists’ projects, a prestigious talks programme and an artist-led education schedule.
Something about S.o.S – Pension
INTRO
“The Life stream(ing) is substituting the Real Life. Only what we see it does exist. The iper-realism is changing the private life and the public and political ones with strong consequences: there is a tremendous trend that can be defined as the emotions synchronization. Everything must happen live . People obtain divine characteristics: ubiquity and immediacy. But these are God own attributes that if given to human beings create an in-human condition. What’s left? Not so much. After some adjustments we are ready for another emotional earthquake. Speed is a way of seeing. And politics tends toward iper-realism. Even better, the political system belongs to this trend. Democracy, as we have been used to it, with opinions build through debates and representatives voted on the basis of their programs, could disappear. We are going towards an endless-shock politic system, that speak to the people needs.” (Paul Virilio).
How can we escape from this obedience?
We need to learn how to distinguish opinions from emotions. Emotion is a reaction and not a careful consideration.
Life/Live is a concept that involves resistance. It is not an absolute resistance because it is based on the knowledge that “live” is a part of the “real life”. We live a life where Live (the show acted/viewed/broadcasted/shared) rules on Life (the real life, lived).
The result will be an opposition when Live overcomes Life; then we must resist to the increasing speed of living. How?

S.o.S. – PENSION
S.o.S - Pension is a system (based on the principle of brake/friction of climbing equipment) that allows an evident resistance, as element of urban resistance.
The concept consists on a new interpretation of the single seesaw project. A body harness that allows the rising of the “resisting person“. In that moment the “resisting person” rises up from the ground and offers himself to the slowdown. In the same time he becomes a visible sign of resistance.
In this context the city will be a place of resistance. The performers will choose places where it is possible the free “S.o.S. – Pension” and they will indicate them with their presence.