In a way very similar, yet different - to the construction of moving structures proposed by Ricardo - my proposal for a few day workshop at Nepokorennye studios was to explore the possibilities of other kind of material that could be put to work in the public realm – namely digital texts used for email spamming.

 

While Ricardo has a passion for spectacular technology, on my behalf I invited the participants of OKK-led workshops to try out the practice of Psychic Spam Attacks. Having tactically played around with re-writing and re-sending spam e-mails from my own mailbox, I was glad to share the experience of the initiative entitled POLARIS INTERNATIONAL Limited (in which I was myself involved), and give advice, as well as provide the spam text material to the workshop participants. In order to bring these kind of Opinion Props to the public realm, some form of identity would be "created" - at least in the form of an e-mail address.

 

We would draw on the rich history of multiple identity creation in order to question the fundamentals of the bourgeois society - all kind of separations including the one of "high" (namely art) and "low" culture, singular identity, and the capitalist logic of value creation.

The problem of originality would be exceptionally dealt with, since itself in capitalism is always a myth, speculated upon by the bourgeoisie in order to transform labour into capital.

 

The digital part of the workshop was attached to the Puppet Construction practice and everyone was invited to migrate between the two at any time. Participatory initiatives were more than welcome, but no one was required to produce a "definite" fake in these couple of days. As for me - the initiator of the digital "Opinion Props" part - the most important aspect of described approach was to propose a theory and practice of digital revolutionary tools in "culture" - which are connected to other forms of social activism.

 

The Execution

 

Having collectively agreed to work in the context of Mukhina art academy of St. Petersburg, which was undergoing a murky sacking of certain personnel and simultaneously a student-led protest against those managerial decisions, we split into two groups - one starting the work on the moving structure of a large puppet, the others - digital crew - discussed endless rumours about the specific school situation on local and national scale. Then we sought for the proofs to some of them on the internet and saved links for further use. The puppet was almost finished when the first day of practical activities came to an end, leaving the digital crew with many possible options to proceed at intercepting the Mukhina conflict.

 

The time overnight let the group reconsider their understanding of the factors at play in the mentioned art school context. Those have been: cases of commercial uses of the humanities' universities in Russia and St. Petersburg entertainment spectrum. Numerous erotic show advertisements or "Russian bride scam" examples were re-written with important internet links or images from related phenomena inserted, some of which were sent out to concerned parties just 1 hour before the puppet intervention at Artists Union meeting on 15.10.12. Specific items targeted: “Gemworld” (“Мир Камня”) market which is being held in the buildings of Mukhina academy, the pop-video for Nikolai Baskov's “Wanderer” (Николай Басков – Странник), which was filmed in the same buildings, and “adult entertainment” industry of St. Petersburg.

 

Please find the e-mails written in the digital “Opinion Props” that we thought are worth being published below. Since we've worked in both English & Russian we include texts in both:

 

1) Мухинское Училище This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

14:39 (2 hrs ago)

Запретное Арт-шоу в Мухинском училище

to: me

 

Russian English Translate message

Turn off automatic translation for: Russian

-------- Пересылаемое сообщение --------

От кого: Мухинское Училище <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>

Кому: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Дата: Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:37:52 +0400

Тема: RE:Запретное Арт-шоу в Мухинском училище

 

Вам хочется устроить праздник с привкусом запретных фантазий, художественности и некоторой взрослости≫ в самом центре Санкт-Петербурга? Это не проблема – как раз для такого случая агентство Муха-ВИП подготовило особый вид шоу-программ, арт-шоу в дворце.

 

Что такое шоу-программа от агентства «Муха-ВИП»?

 

Художественное шоу от агентства Муха-ВИП – это максимум искусства с минимальной пошлостью. Конечно, эта программа рассчитана только на совершеннолетних зрителей, но в ней не будет ничего, что может оскорбить эстетические чувства современного человека.

 

Наше художественное шоу может состоять из:

 

1. Тематических шоу-программ художественного направления. Это особенно актуально для корпоративных, а также календарных праздников, которые вы хотите провести максимально ярко в нашем дворце.

 

2. Классических шоу-программ: танцев. Для любителей искусства, отраженного в танце, мы предлагаем различные шоу-программы – от обычного арт-шоу до тематических представлений и других видах экзотических танцев.

 

3. Других шоу-программ, на ваш вкус. Вы всегда можете заказать отдельное художественное шоу, например, комбинированное.

 

4. Сценок и шуток художественного направления. А куда же без юмора, даже в такие моменты? Каждое художественное шоу имеет несколько важных особенностей: шоу-программа редактируется и изменяется исходя из концепции вашего праздника, собранной аудитории и ваших пожеланий. Всю программу выполняют артисты, имеющие опыт работы с разной публикой на различных мероприятиях.

 

Эти особенности проведения художественного шоу и дают нам право говорить, что мы предлагаем лучшее.

 

Уж заинтересовались? Тогда предлагаем продолжить наше общение, но уже с менеджером ≪Муха-ВИП≫. Для этого вам достаточно связаться с нами.

 

PS. Возможно, Вас заинтересуют другие программы:

• Организация выставок во дворце (link http://gemworld.ru)

• Поющие бокалы во дворце

• Лазерное шоу во дворце

• Неоновое шоу во дворце

 

 

 

1) (AUTOMATIC ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

 

Mukhina Academy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

14:39 (2 hrs ago)

Forbidden Art show at the Mukhina Academy

to: me

 

Russian English Translate message

Turn off automatic translation for: Russian

-------- Forwarded Message --------

From: Mukhina Academy <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>

Whom: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:37:52 0400

Subject: RE: Forbidden Art show at the Mukhina Academy

 

You want to arrange a holiday with a taste of the forbidden fantasies, artistry and a "maturity" in the heart of St. Petersburg? No problem - just for the occasion agency "Fly VIP" prepared a special kind of shows, an art show in the palace.

 

What is the show program of the agency "VIP MYXA" (engl. VIP Fly)?

 

Art show on the agency "Fly-VIP" - a maximum of art with minimum vulgarity. Of course, this program is designed only to adult viewers, but it will not touch anything that might offend the aesthetic sensibilities of modern man.

 

Our art show can consist of:

 

1. Themed show programs artistic direction. This is especially true for corporate and holiday calendar that you want to have the most vivid in our palace.

 

2. Classic show programs: dance. For art lovers, reflected in the dance, we offer a variety of entertainment programs - from conventional art shows to theme ideas and other types of exotic dancing.

 

3. Other shows, to your taste. You can always order a separate art show, for example, combined.

 

4. Sketches and jokes artistic direction. And where do without humor, even in those moments?

 

Each art show has several important features: show program edited and changed based on the concept of your holiday, drew an audience and your wishes. The program performs all the artists who have experience with different audiences at various events.

 

These features of the art show, and give us the right to say that we offer the best.

 

So interested? Then propose to continue our dialogue, but the manager "Fly-VIP".

 

For this, you can contact us.

 

PS. You may be interested in other programs:

• Organization of exhibitions at the Palace (link http://gemworld.ru)

• Singing glasses at the Palace

• Laser show at the Palace

• Neon show at the Palace

 

 

2) Employee review of MYXA-VIP:

 

My dear John!

 

I ran yesterday into agencies and called to Moscow in embassy! Independently I can not receive the visa because travel agencies at once buy up all visas at the American embassy which is in Moscow! Visas give only the certain quantity and even through agency it is very difficult to receive her because check by bodies of militia will be carried out what to learn the terrorist I whether or not! As from for that that the visa to be at agency that they establish the prices for visas! To me it is useless to go to Moscow in embassy to receive the visa because simply so to me her will not give and through agency to me of her money will give because agency already has paid to embassy what to this agency and their clients visas gave out! Understand so in Russia affairs are done! It's not America here, however all on the contrary I don't want to leave Russia!

 

So to Moscow I shall not go because it is waste of time and one I can not receive the visa! I want to stay in Piter!!! My prince John, understand my words please and understand me! Understand at you in America of a hand you rights are untied also may present, and in Moscow of a hand are connected also all to spit on mine rights of all interest only money! It is St. Petersburg that takes care of the passionate Russian girls, where MYXA-VIP can handle the Johns intimately, but also discretely and cheaply...

 

My loved John so it is better to do all through MYXA-VIP (http://spbghpa.ru/)!

 

Other variants it is waste of time!

 

I very much love you you see I want you to meet my prince here is St. Petersburg and as soon as possible there is to be with you I want to make love faster when you arrive to my town! That is what we could experience in MYXA-VIP St. Petersburg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpDiQsj_NHk)...

 

I very much love you!

 

I wait for your letter mine John!

 

Your bride Olympia!

 

 

 

2) (AUTOMATIC RUSSIAN TRANSLATION)

 

Сотрудник обзора Myxa-VIP:

 

Дорогой Джон!

 

Я побежала вчера по учреждениям и звонила в Москву в посольство! Независимо от того что не могу получить визу, потому что туристические агентства сразу скупили все визы в американском посольстве, которое находится в Москве! Визы даются только в определенном количестве, и даже через агентство очень трудно получить, потому что проверки органами милиции будут осуществляться с намерением изучить террористка я или нет! Как из за того, что виза будет на агентство, которое и устанавливает цены на визы! Для меня это не имеет смысла ехать в Москву в посольство, чтобы получить визу, потому что просто так мне ее не дадут, а через агентство мне ее даст за деньги, потому что агентство уже заплатило посольству за получение визы! Поймите, так в России дела делаются! Это не Америка, здесь, однако, все наоборот. Я не хочу уезжать из России!

 

Так что в Москву я не поеду, потому что это пустая трата времени и одна я не могу получить визу! Я хочу остаться в Питере! Мой принц Джон, поими мои слова, пожалуйста, и меня тоже! Поймите, у вас в Америке одни права у нас другие. Представьте, нам в Москве связаны руки и всем плевать на мое право - всех интересуют только деньги! Это Санкт-Петербург, который заботится о страстных русских девушек, где Myxa-VIP может справиться с Джоном тесно, но и дискретно, и дешево …

 

Мой любимый Джон, так что лучше делать все через Myxa-VIP! (http://spbghpa.ru/)!

 

Другие варианты это пустая трата времени!

 

Я очень люблю тебя видишь, я хочу познакомить тебя - моего принца - здесь с Санкт-Петербургом и как можно скорее быть с тобой Я хочу, чтобы любить быстрее, когда вы приедете в мой город! Это то, что мы могли испытать в Myxa-VIP Санкт-Петербурге (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpDiQsj_NHk)...

 

Я очень тебя люблю!

 

Я жду вашего письма мой Джон!

 

Ваша невеста Олимпия!