Thorbjørn Reuter Christiansen

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The Asylum Box, 2004, Installation Iron & Wood, 4,5 x 4,5 qm

More images: www.artnews.org/thorbjoernreuterchristiansen

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My name is Thorbjørn Reuter Christiansen son of FLUXUS.
I was born on the 5th of December 1974 in Næstved Denmark. My Mother is Ursula Reuter Christiansen and Father Henning Christiansen. My brother is Esben Krabbe Christiansen, Bjørn Bjørnstjerne Reuter Christiansen and Addamaria Reuter Christiansen. I was living on the Island of Møn until 1988. Berlin 1988-1990. Møn 1990-1993. Copenhagen 1993-1995. Berlin 1995-2003. Malmö 2003-2004. Berlin, Møn, Copenhagen 2004-2006
I have been married with Caroline Lund since 7.8.1999.
I’m a master student of Katharina Sieverding University of Fine Arts Berlin 2006.
Working as Tutor of the Artist Talk & Free class at the University of Fine Arts Berlin 2002-2006.

PM Praxis Mobilitity Helper was founded in 2005 with Caroline Lund
1) About PM:
PM is an art-service organization and an agency for creating change that is working in a space between art, politics and industry. PM has its foundation in teaching and sharing knowledge; dialogue and participation are desired. PM uses a “research-method” where different media are compared to each other, and material is gathered in order to come up with workshops, actions, activities, operating-instructions, exhibitions, events, services and products.

PM has a result-oriented structure, that is, it produces material that can be used or transformed by its customers, the art scene or the public. PM is aiming for customers, clients, communities and individuals who are looking for solutions or change of situations or space. PM exists in Malmö, Copenhagen and Berlin and consists of the artists Thorbjørn Reuter Christiansen and Caroline Lund together with people from other surroundings and areas who in different ways are willing to participate in the local projects.

PM: “The short manifesto”:
PM places Art outside the realm of the art world
PM works on the margins of institutions
PM provides local benefits while existing on a universal level
PM is not only resistance, it’s also adaptation
PM does not criticize from the outside but creates change from within
PM isn’t just a process, it’s also a product
PM isn’t just representation, it’s also involvement and action
PM isn’t only alternative and peripheral, it’s also present and visual
PM offers a possibility to participate in real life – instead of running away from it

PM: Motivation
Opportunities for individual participation in the democratic and political process of society is steadily decreasing. The “vanishing hope” to be able to create change through political activism combined with the prevailing threat from increasing unemployment has replaced personal activism with a struggle for economic survival. With the use of participatory strategies the artist can try to regain lost motivation or transform unused potential into something new.

The increasing need for human interconnection, developed partly by the use of Internet and other virtual forms of communication, legitimates the need for an art praxis surging from the “intra-human” field. Studies about/with human activities presuppose an examination of the values, interests and ethics constructing the basis for the praxis.

All activities of PM are based upon the action model, the theoretical praxis. This deals with how instead of who-what-where, to enter a situation in a certain way and not around it. The work process is decisive for PM, the way that communication and actions occur together with companies, groups of population and institutions.

PM: How?

Praxis
Our “praxis” consists of nine consecutive work steps – a work model – that describes the mechanism of PM in different contexts. Each project PM performs has its specific content but the “praxis” remains constant in all projects whether artistic, political or commercial. The action model is a scheme, a guideline to follow and a method in which to gauge the efficiency of the activities. “Praxis“ provides the customer with an insight in the work of PM. “Praxis” can be used in many different areas and in many different ways – as a workshop model, an art agency, as a model for work assignment or for the development of an institution.

“Praxis” takes place together with people. The audience is part of the production process while communication and the actual context is central for the development. The efficiency of “praxis” depends on how the audience understands and participates in the proposal. It also depends on whether or not the ruling powers (i.e. institutions or companies) accept the idea or not. To assure that a theme is not re-interpreted or used in the wrong context PM practices the above described method and demands that the client or cooperation partner takes an active part of the process.

Process/participation
PM is not an isolated study but a process. To understand a process as an act of creativity and creation it has to change or renew an area or a situation. At the same time the change, the interference, has to be noticed by the public. The task of PM is to spread the knowledge needed to understand or be part of such interference.

The Result
PM is a result-oriented art activity. “Praxis” starts with an idea or the formulation of a problem and ends with the result. The result is either a solution or a proposal and always includes an evaluation of the process. By showing how results, models and methods that are developed by “praxis” can be used in different contexts, PM will facilitate new paths towards structural change or the fusion of the different fields.

The Function of PM
The local function of PM is to encourage people towards creativity and social involvement as well as, by means of concrete activity and participatory processes, facilitate different perspectives, actions and ways of thinking. By the means of actions and creativity the individual can control and/or structure the situations of everyday life. PM exposes and visualizes existing (mis-)conditions of society, PM develops tools for social change and takes part in the creation of an engaged public by activating its unused potential. In the commercial arena or institutional context, PM contributes a sense of reason and renewal. In the public sphere PM creates “neutral” spaces that facilitate resistance and critique.

PM: Method (the way PM works)

1. Subject: The focus is on a current subject, a social problem, a political situation, a commission, an occasion or an interesting event.

2. Localisation: The subject determines why a certain place should be examined and in what context it belongs to its environment.

3. Focus: Context, subject and localisation determine how the examination should be carried out. The requirement is that focus should occur from both a close and a distant perspective and that there should be no stance taken during the research-period; the third phase of the project.

4. Summary 1: Composition and summary of the examined subject.

5. Communication: Creative communication – about the research together with people who are involved and interested in the project.

6. Product: Development of the product based on the research material. The product could be an event, an action, a campaign, an information space, a workshop, a lecture or an intervention of the given space. The product should contain a conveyed teaching-and communication part. The character of the project should encourage participation.

7. Participation: Surroundings, local population, workshop-participants, employees, cooperators, affected and interested persons may take part in the product and react to it.

8. Summary 2: Observation, collection and composition of the new material created through the participation.

9. Result: A result has been achieved during/through the eight steps. It leads back to the subject and answers, completes or visualizes it. The result can be used in a new context.

Thorbjørn Reuter Christiansen

1974 born in Naestved, Denmark

Lives and works in Kopenhagen Moen Berlin, Germany

Education

Education & Assistant worker:
2005-07 Art theory department, Royal Danish Academy, Copenhagen, Denmark
2006 Diploma as Master Student at the University of fine art Berlin, Prof. Katharina Sieverding.
2005 Tutor - The Free Class/Interflugs at the University of fine Art Berlin.
2004-05 Jimmie Durhams Assistant.
2003-04 Erasmus Student at Malmö Art Academy, Sweden.
2002-05 Tutor - Artist Talk/Interflugs at the University of fine Art Berlin.
2001-06 Student at the University of fine art Berlin, Prof. Katharina Sieverding.
1996-00 Assistant at the Art Club Project Schmaltzwald, Berlin, Germany.
1995-98 Assistant at the Gallery o - zwei, Berlin, Germany.
1994-95 Fatamorgana, The Danish Art photography school.

Grants

2006 Globalalien, Kunststyrelsen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
PM no 5, Stavanger Norway, Kunststyrelsen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Solo Exhibitions

2002 ABROAD, colour prints, colour print object’s, Video projection „border crossing“ DK/D, VHS (30 min.), Gallery Doris Day Dream, Chodowiekistr.12, Berlin

Group Exhibitions

2006 PM No 5 interactive participative streeet action Stavanger Norway
2006 PUBLIC ACTION MOVIES TV-TV Week 44 2006. 5 1/2 h filmprogram artist run tv station Copenhagen Denmark
2006 PUBLIC ACTION MOVIES Generatordriwen screening on Fragtmandshallerne Nørrebro Copenhagen Denmark
2006 “A tribute to George W. Bush “ Film screening in Raumerweiterungshalle Berlin.
2006 “This is way beyond politics” ALL ABOUT LIES
Exhibition in Apartment Project - Istanbul
2006 PARTICIPATIVE POLITICAL PERFORMANCE (PPP) with PM Emergency Room, Olaf Stüber Gallery, Max Beer Strasse 25, Mitte, Berlin.
2006 Museo de Ate y Diseno Contemporaneo. Costa Rica. E TESTER: Die Auflosung Der Vereinigten Staaten Von Amerika. The Dissolution Of The United States of America. Thorbjorn Reuter Christiansen. 7´30´´. 2001.
2006 Globalalien, re-construction of Asylum seekers isolation cell & The Asylum archive, Artist Talk organisation. Meinblau e.V. -Artist run Gallery, Berlin, Germany.
2006 The Participatory Circus, „The Hypnotic Show“, Exit Exhibition at The University of Fine Arts Berlin, Germany.
2006 No simple problem Interview with Martin Schwegmann and Thorbjørn Reuter Christiansen Monu magazine on urbanism #04, Kassel, Germany.
2006 E-Tester, Hito Steyrl and Thorbjørn Reuter Christiansen DVD project. San Sebastian, Spain.
2005 PM Organising the video activist workshop. One World Berlin - media festival on human rights. Video production and screening at the Casino Künstlerhaus Bethanien BAF GmbH, Berlin, Germany.
2005 PM Participation in the Art Space? Kunst amt Kreuzberg in Bethanien, Berlin, Germany.
2005 PM Comic City, Baltic RAW Hafencity Hamburg, Germany.
2005 PM Blackboard, Year Exhibition University of Fine Arts Berlin, Germany.
2005 Founding PM Praxis Mobility helper with Caroline Lund.
2005 Organising the Workshop Urban Intervention at the Helsinki Art Academy, with Martin Schwegmann, Helsinki, Finland.
2005-2006 Asylum, Emergency Biennale,
Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France.
Grozny, Chechnya, Russia.
Brussels, Belgium.
Bolzano, Italy.
Milano, Italy.
Riga, Lettland.
Tallin,Estland
Vancouver, Canada.
2004 Urban Art Dialog Interflugs Exhibition at the Gallery Wuthering Heights, Malmö, Sweden.
2004 13th Space Warning Squadron, with Jimmie Durham, Minority Report, Århus, Denmark.
2004 Forum Medial Open Academy & Film Screening with Martin Schwegman & Verner Johnsen. The Schloß Platz, Berlin, Germany.
2004 Film Screening at the Gustav Eiffel Public School with Caroline Lund & Christine Woditzka. Berlin, Germany.
2004 Tobis Tiki Bar, Malmö Art Academy Year Exhibition, Malmö, Sweden.
2004 Asylum Box, Skåne social Art Forum – Utopia Station Lund, Sweden.
2003 Strassenfeger (street cleaner), Interflugs Student edition of Homeless news paper Berlin, with Martin Schwegmann & Andreas Schlaegel Berlin, Germany.
2003 OIL ARCHIVE, Class of Sieverding, House at Lützowplatz, Berlin, Germany.
2002 ABROAD, colour prints, colour print object’s, Video projection „border crossing“ DK/D, VHS (30 min.), Gallery Doris Day Dream, Chodowiekistr.12, Berlin, Germany.
2001 Medial Dislocated, VHS (10 min.)
2001 Burning Flag, VHS (30 min.) www.superchannel.org/home/channels/bb2.
2001 The erasure of the United States of, Performance with Jason Liebert (Can) on Theramin, Gallery Doris Day Dream, Chodowiekistr.12, Berlin, Germany.
2001 Mr. Green Ear & The Burning Dollar bill, Performance with Jason Liebert
(Can) on Theramin, Gallery Doris Day Dream, Chodowiekistr.12, Berlin, Germany.
2001 Golden Arch Hotel, Photo + digital Video stills + VHS (30 min.)
2000 HORIZONTAL, Panorama photos + Signal lamp, HULRUM (32 artist from Northern Europe) Madsnedøfort, Vordingborg, DK.

Projects

Beam Squatting

-Take a Laptop, Video projector, Generator, Boom box, and Microphone & Cabals.
-Go to an empty warehouse, an empty wall, a square, a park, a highway bridge, and a parking house, on a roof, in a cellar, in an empty building, in a swimming pool, on a football field, on a farmer’s field. Etc…
Don’t forget a flashlight.

Car Beam Squatting

-Take a car put the generator next to it. Sit in the back of the car with open door. Place the Video projector on a box. Turn on your laptop. Turn on your boom box. Connect the Laptop with the Video projector, boom box to the generator. Install your projection screen ore project on a wall. Turn on the microphone. Make a speech.
Don’t forget a flashlight.

Public Podium Speaker

-Take a boom box with batteries, microphone, wooden black plates, wood pieces, screws, on a trolley. Go to a public space. Like a park, street, square, on a roof, in a supermarket, shopping mall. Etc…

Public speech bubbles

Make speech bubbles out of white PVC plates. Cut out speech bubbles with a saw. Tape the edges with black tape. Put a clip with a marker on an edge. Place the speech bubble on a fence, tree, bench, and staircase. Etc…with plastic clips.

Public Blackboard

-Take Blackboard paint and a paint roller on a stick. Go to a wooden fence, building, parking house, cellar, roof, under a bridge, advertisement billboard. Etc…
Put a string with chalk piece next to the Blackboard.

Links

www.minority-report.dk
www.emergencybiennale.org
http://www.emergency-biennale.org/artists/artist47.htm
http://www.centrea.org/ex_0607.asp
http://www.paris-art.com/expo_detail-2329-tiravanija.html

www.oneworld-fest.de

www.monu.org

www.lundchristiansen.org

http://www.urbanintervention.org/

www.meinblau.de
www.globalalien.net

http://www.berlintest.blogspot.com/
http://berlintest.blogspot.com/2006/09/friday-15-september-participating.html
http://www.artnet.de/magazine/reviews/mania/mania10-12-06_detail.asp?picnum=7

http://www.berlinerpool.de/lies/
http://www.apartmentproject.com/p_yalan.asp
http://www.apartmentproject.com/c_Christiansenlie.asp

http://www.madc.ac.cr/mambo452/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=167&Itemid=56
www.e-tester.net

http://www.balticraw.org/programm/august3.html#2508

Thorbjørn Reuter Christiansen

Thorbjoern Reuter Christiansen
Chorinerstrasse 32
10435 Berlin

+49 30 44041036 mobil +49 160
christiansentobi@hotmail.com
www.pm-participation.org