Yearning for Europe- a project for a New Europe

In May 2004 ten countries joined the European Union. At least another six are engaged in
talks with the EU or have expressed interest in doing so.

My project, Werben >Bewerben >Europa, incorporates, photography, digital imaging, computer
software source codes and the internet to explore the image and self-presentation of these
countries.

The project
I envision the project being exhibited in a public space, preferably one that is accessed by
large numbers of people during their daily lives. The location could be anywhere within the
current 25 nations of the European Union

The artwork could be shown in several formats:

1. Advertising spaces - billboards, walls of public buildings and access ways. The images
would be exhibited at various sizes- from A0 to billboard format in places normally used for
advertising or informative notices.

2. Works printed on 'backlight film' would be attached to the windows or display cases.
Several fluorescent lamps could be placed behind the film creating the effect of an architec-
tural light box.

3. Works could be projected as part of a revolving 'digital slide show' of all the countries in
the series. Each image would be shown for a duration of 15-25 seconds, enough time for a
view to decipher the content. Alternatively multiple beamers could be used. Beamers would be
timed so that different images were projected on multiple screens at any time, images would
appear to travel throughout the exhibition space - going from screen to screen.

The 'digital slide show' could be projected from behind onto a window to which an opaque or
transluscent screen were attached.

The works themselves
The works are all made up of photographs, taken by the artist during the last eight years.
They have been digitally altered and collaged with HTML source code from the main page of
the government web site of the nation where the photograph was taken.

The main page or 'Index' page was chosen as the source of the virtual representation of each
nation. The government web sites function as a basic information source and as an advertise-
ment for each nation as it tries to present itself as a part of a modern Europe.

Often the HTML source code shows information not visible on the website as viewed through a
web browser. The META Content and description lines often include 'keywords' or subjects that
are to be noted by search engines such as 'Google' and 'Yahoo'. The use of Javascripts may
show the versatility and craftsmanship of the web designer employed by the featured nation.

In altering the color, hue and saturation of the images I plan to provoke a more careful anal-
ysis of the images on the part of the viewer. The image reveals itself more slowly, and the
viewer is thus more attentive of small details in the images, that he or she might normally
overlook. The added dimension of the text/ sourcecode invites the viewer to investigate the
whole image further- to put together a puzzle of sorts.

The individual images will be untitled, leaving it to the viewer to figure out which countries
they represent by means of the text/ source code and an affixed national emblem. My aim is
to acquaint the viewer a little more intimately with these new nations, who are now applying
(bewerben) to join a larger United Europe.