FreeF(art)Zone (FFZ)

FreeF(art)Zone (FFZ) is an installation in which visitors interact with thermal cameras and can visualize their flatulence in real time on the screens. They can record themselves and take photos, and they decide if they want to upload their “farties” to social networks. FFZ is a commission by the Juan Gallery to the artists Maite Cajaraville and Gisle Frøysland .

We were inspired by Hakim Bey’s essay, “Temporarily Autonomous Zone”, published in 1991 in which he describes the socio-political tactic of creating temporary spaces that elude formal structures of control.

FreeF(art)Zone (FFZ) An irreverent interactive installation by NSA (Maite Cajaraville and Gisle Frøysland) from Maite Cajaraville on Vimeo.

FreeF(art)Zone (FFZ) is an installation in which visitors interact with thermal cameras and can visualize their flatulence in real time on the screens. They can record themselves and take photos, and they decide if they want to upload their “farties” to social networks. FFZ is a proposal for the Juan Gallery of the artists Maite Cajaraville and Gisle Frøysland.

We were inspired by Hakim Bey’s essay, “Temporarily Autonomous Zone”, published in 1991 in which he describes the socio-political tactic of creating temporary spaces that elude formal structures of control.

We generate a FFZ, a FreeF(art)Zone, to concentrate on the present and, on releasing one’s own mind and body from the controlling mechanisms, to create a non-hierarchical system of social relationships.

Following Bey’s guidelines to form a TAZ, we use information as a key tool to sneak between the cracks of conventional procedures. We create a new territory of the moment that last just for one day. We avoid any attempt at permanence that goes beyond the moment, as it deteriorates to a structured system that inevitably stifles individual creativity. It is this chance of creativity that is real empowerment. We also acknowledge that, in a certain way, this liberation has a festive spirit.

According to Hakim Bey’s theory, a Temporary Automonous Zone is not something that “will” or “should” happen but something that is in fact happening. We aim to create a FFZ as an example within Hakim Bey’s theory, where we generate a time and a space of self-organization and social freedom.

On the other hand, Hakim Bey places special emphasis on the necessary invisibility of the Autonomous Zones to avoid being under the media ‘eye’. Therefore, he advises that tactics of discretion and total avoidance of the mass media should be developed. This is related to the spirit that Bey defends of “freedom of daily life” and not “freedom as a spectacle”. So the communication that we will make of FFZ will also be in a limited time window and based on social networks and groups, not on mass media.

Total FREEEDOM in ART becomes a FART!