Description of the REFRAMES project

REFRAMES is the motto and the name of a series of events regarding the art of perception. Everyday situations in public places, form the basis and the focus of art projects in various areas. Literature, music, performance and video art, produce an aesthetic new framing of standard situations of everyday life.

Art is developed through coincidence and the friction caused by artistic intervention. Art gives way to new perception of different aspects of everyday life. The REFRAMES initiative focuses on the creation of a continuously growing network of international partners, in order to enable mutual inspiration of art and society within an intercultural dialogue.

Prelude meeting REACT

60,000 passers-by in search of a potential author
A literary interaction between authors and coincidental figures of poetry.
A Horst Konietzny project.

The initial REACT meeting took place on the 18th of November in Munich.

Description of the REACT project

A random individual who crosses a targeted public area during the timeframe of the above-mentioned project, may unexpectedly become involved in literature. Passers-by of interest are stopped.

Authors hidden within this area, proceed to describe couples and passers-by, going about their daily life. Those idly strolling about can suddenly find themselves being a literary figure. These texts, whilst being written, are projected on to several displays.

Thereby, React returns to the old question of the interdependency between personal experience and literature. How much of our personal experience, influences our writing and vice versa?

After the successful initial meeting in Munich, further React projects have been planned in cities all over the world for 2004/2005.

NEW: In the current project version, a personal, real-time interaction with passers-by via SMS is intended.

Concept: Horst Konietzny
Copyright 2004

Authors

	Doris Dörrie - Biography Doris Dörrie was born in 1955 in Hannover. She studied drama and acting in the USA and then proceeded to graduate from the University for Film and Television in Munich. She is currently teaching at her German Alma Mater.

	Ulrike Draesner - Biography Ulrike Draesner was born in 1962 in Munich. After studying German, English and Philosophy in Munich and Oxford, she worked as a teaching assistant at the University of Munich for four years. She ended her academic career in 1993, to have more time for writing. Since 1994, she has been working as a free-lance author, translator, literature critic and publisher. She has been living in Berlin since 1996. Ulrike Draesner has received numerous awards, her latest being the “Hoelderlin Foerderpreis 2001” and the ‘Preis der Literaturhäuser’ in 2002. She writes prose and poetry. Her work overlaps within the areas of literature, imagery, and music.

	Johann Kleemayr - Biography Johann Kleemayr was born in Schwanenstadt/Austria in 1954. He studied Philosophy, Theology and German in Salzburg and Paris. He is currently involved in writing academically related work („Die geometrische Welt“, Pascals Wette“), film scripts, plays, poetry (nomination for the Trakl-Förderungspreis), prose („Das Moped“), poetry (book publications e.g. „Armer“, 1990, „Puchheim“ 1994), and sculptural work.

	Franz Maria Sonner - Biography Franz Maria Sonner was born in 1953 and lives in Munich. He writes radio-plays and narration. "Kakapo. Ein Geburtstagsfest" and “Die Bibliothek des Attentäters" were his latest works which were published by Kunstmann.

	Thomas Meinecke - Biography Thomas Meinecke was born in 1955 in Hamburg. He studied drama, modern German literature and, communication in Munich. In 1978, he and his team founded the satirical magazine "Mode & Verzweifeln", and in 1980, the band "F.S.K.". Since 1985, Thomas Meinecke has hosted his own radio show on Bayern 2. In 1986, his first book was published by Suhrkamp, a prose collection. In 1997, he was awarded with the “Heimito von Doderer” grant and the “Rheingau”- literary award. In 1998, he proceeded to win the "Kranich mit dem Stein” prize, in addition to the German literary award in 2003. His latest novel, "Hellblau", was also published by Suhrkamp. Thomas Meinecke works as writer, musician, literature critic and radio show host.

	Moritz Rinke -Biography Moritz Rinke was born in 1967 in Worpswede and lives as a free-lance author in Berlin. He studied drama in Gießen. In 1997, his second play, “Der Mann, der noch keiner Frau Blöße entdeckte" won him the PEN Club Lichtenstein literary award, in addition to his nomination for the Muehlheimer prize of drama. “Republic Vineta "was selected as the best German play of the 2000/2001 season by “Theater heute”. For the Nibelungen festival in Worms, he wrote a new narration of the "Nibelungen”, which was presented for the first time in 2002. In the film "September" by Max Fäberböck, he made his debut as an actor. His play "Optimisten", is currently being premiered in Bochum.

	Jo Randerson

Voices of the authors

It sounds ‘super clever’ that passers-by enter a targeted area where realities becomes mixed. This is something I don’t like at all. However, having imagined it in reality, I found it intriguing: If a beautiful girl from Munich suddenly enters the targeted area, it becomes futuristically useful for my inspiration. I quickly write a poem about her on the spur of the moment, in which realities blend together. She not only becomes an actual part of the reading itself, but also has her own private evening reading. I don’t know whether this is classified as literature. At least it is an easier way of gaining access to the world of the web-cam chat room.

If a passer-by should notice that their activity is being integrated into literature, they may be inclined to alter their behaviour. They may begin to understand the idea that we, writers, are in of need places, people and life in general to add substance to our writing. As simplistic as it may seem, the mere action of a woman passing with a Pretzel can have a dramatic impact on life.
MORITZ RINKE

I sit and think, what shall I write? I sit and think, what am I seeing? I sit and think, is it raining or snowing? I sit and think of Konietzny. I check my watch. The thought of someone tripping over a cable. Power failures have been a regular occurrence of late. I am not merely connected to Munich on a mental level, but rather, to the entire world. To Jo Randerson in New Zealand for example. She resembles me. The whole world looks upon us and at that what I am writing. Not only does every word matter, but particularly the first. The first. The crucial word.

And then everything is out in the open. I am discovered as a cheat. No single word. First. Second. What is the purpose of these veiled humans? Umbrellas. Caps. Hats. Scarves. Wrapped up. It is much too warm for a white, snowy main square in Linz. Something I had wished for. Is this red capped person a woman? What is she doing in Australia with Jo Randerson? In the “Stifterhaus”-café I will drink green Rosemary tea and ask for the video tape.
JOHANN KLEEMAYR

An ideal Trampoline. Busy. Crossing over (the square). Immersed with memories, but at the same time, memories from today. Jump off. The energy of the impact comes from the Trampoline. I make the jump. It is I who decides on its direction. It leads to pictures. Called fiction or rendition – beautifully, unreal, real.
ULRIKE DRAESNER

Kafka used small writing books. Small enough to fit into his bag. In order to be able to jot down ideas and observations immediately. Writing whilst walking. Integrating the direct physical impact of the passers-by into his notes. A real-time integration of his surrounding environment into his personal writing. Can it work? I do not know. But we can try.
FRANZ MARIA SONNER

Greeting words of the sponsors

We are delighted to be involved in the literary interaction between authors and coincidental figures of their poetry. To be in a position to enable writers to create something new from a piece of reality by giving them their space.

People from all over the world encounter each other. Also here on Marienplatz in Munich. Various factors have an impact on the outcome of an encounter. Do they speak the same language? Can they understand each other despite their different cultural background? Do they know about the behaviour that is expected from them? A lack of understanding restrains communication. Information, thoughts and feelings can only be communicated with difficulty.

Of course, it can also lead to unexpectedly positive or even funny situations. At times, we may still even think about them. As Ludwig Wittgenstein once said: “the border of language defines the borders of my world.”

Language and culture are essential for communication. Whether for every day language or language in literary texts . For more than 125 years millions of people have surpassed their limits and broadened both their horizons and perception of the world with Berlitz.

We are sure that the REACT project will enrich people’s lives through their interpretation of the authors’ language and writing.
BERLITZ

Since 1983, Rischart's Backhaus in Munich has been sponsoring art. It is clear that art taking place in the centre of Munich, at Marienplatz, is of great interest to us. The REACT project gives one, a way to discover new opportunities of approaching and experiencing literature during its development. Through the initiation of curiosity, we are encouraged to participate in this literary interaction.
GERHARD MÜLLER-RISCHART

Dear friends of literature,
For more than 20 years, Swatch has combined technology with creativity. The brand has always remained flexible and followed the motto: "keeping an eye out for market trends and implementing promising ideas". On this basis, Swatch has for years succeeded in positively provoking the market.

The literary project at Marienplatz also goes by the motto of “observation and implementation”. Thus, it was out of the question for Swatch not to participate in the sponsoring of this project. We hope everybody involved will enjoy this event as much as we have.
SWATCH

Having practised law for over 40 years at Marienplatz, we have both welcomed and cursed many of the related distractions. We warmly welcome REACT to the square! Indications of your birth, literature, are already visible.

We are looking forward to the future work of the authors and are already curious about the books.
Glock Liphart Probst Attorneys

Further voices

EP, helper at the StateStreet bank:

Hello Beate,
Reactions have been mixed. There were of course many, who were not interested in accepting a flyer, on the basis that they believed we wanted to sell something. Others directly declined, claiming they were not from Munich. Some, did not react at all. Avoided all eye contact. Others looked away, embarrassed by the fact they had been confronted.

These reactions of course, were not directly related to the project itself, but rather a dismissal of the fact that somebody was bothering them with a flyer. One even went so far as to accuse me of producing litter. There was naturally also positive feedback. With some people, I even became involved in discussions as to what we were actually doing. They found the idea rather enticing but lacked the time to fully participate in the project. Especially touching, was an older gentleman who had received a flyer from somebody else. He approached me, holding the hand of a small boy – perhaps his grandchild, – handed me back the flyer, smiling and letting me in on his secret: "you know what? .........I’ve just realised that I am indescribable!".

The action itself was touching. I like the idea that art is immersed into everyday life. And through this, touches people who would normally be unreachable. Unique to this project, is the fact that literature is transferable. Despite my participation in various other art projects, this was a first for me. The project in its entirety was not only a successful experience for me on a personal level, but was clearly a moving occurrence for all passers-by involved.

Hopefully there will be more of it soon.

Greetings, Elke