THINGS curated by Tamara Projects
We hoard and surround ourselves with things to remind us of our past and to establish who we are. It’s as if the objects have got a magic power to stop time, keeping our memories alive. But when we are no longer here, forget, or dispose of the object, the web of stories disappears. And the object moves on, via a charity shop or an auction house, gathering a new story for someone else…
Another reason for our obsession with things is the belief that they carry powers and meanings because of whom they belonged to, a collectable pen used by Churchill, for example, a notion that the auction houses have always encouraged and something that goes back to totemism and ancient beliefs.
THINGS is a digital public art project where artists and writers create stories for objects. The objects are sited on eBay site for the duration of a standard auction – 10 days, including their new ‘story’, a made up biography.
During that time they are also displayed together in an exhibition at 310 New Cross Road from 12-21 October. Whilst the exhibition links directly to the auctions, the auctions will be real… After the auction, the objects are sent to their buyers with a print out of the story, unsold lots are relisted until sold.
ARTISTS’ BRIEF
You’ll be randomly allocated an old object in order to write its story for an eBay auction.
The story could be about whom the object belongs to, where it’s come from, what it’s been used for, etc… but the content is entirely up to you, stranger the better, but staying within the site’s guidelines.
The objects will be exhibited together with the story between whilst simultaneously auctioned on eBay.
The proceeds from the auction belong to the artist.
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS PROJECT