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An introduction isn’t really necessary for a group with a name like 0100101110101101.org. On Thursday night, these world-famous artists will be making their first appearance in the United States, right here at the University of Maine.
Franko and Eva Mattes, whose real names were only recently revealed, are known by their unique Web site name. These two Italian artists are based in Barcelona, and their specialty is “reality hacking.” Their main objective is to make media their own, and reveal some of the hidden truths about our society. Most of this is achieved through hoaxes and pranks.
“We invited 0100101110101101.org because they are expert media hackers-they use digital media techniques and culture hacking to help us see through the propaganda, and to show us how we are being manipulated into accepting murder as art, theft of public places as commerce, machines as identity, and sharing as crime,” said new media professor Joline Blais.
A previous project included the duo inventing a fictional artist who made realistic sculptures of decapitated human bodies. This artist, Darko Maver, became a sensation across Europe and his “work” was displayed in renowned European galleries. The artist “died” in a Yugoslavian prison where he had been imprisoned for his “anti-patriotic work.” Several months after his supposed death, the group revealed that the artist and his work was entirely fictionalized, and the pictures of the decapitated figures were actual pictures that anyone could find on the Internet at sites like Rotten.com.
Another controversial event by the group took place in 1998, when they created a fake Web site for the Vatican. It was identical to the original, except that it contained sections about “free love” and contraception. It was online for about one full year, until the Vatican officials discovered it and had the site removed.
0100101110101101.org will be coming to UMaine this week to show off their hoax movie, “United We Stand.” They have created movie posters, which can been seen at their Web site, and posted them worldwide – in China, India, New York City, and even UMaine. Event organizers hope that Thursday’s event will include some knowing viewers and also some unsuspecting fans that are hoping to catch a free screening of a hit movie about Europe taking over the world.
According to professor Blais, the people who show up to the event expecting a movie are just as much a part of the artwork. In fact, anyone who even discusses the artwork with others includes himself or herself in the artwork.
“It’s an example of ‘contagious media’ – it spreads like a virus to whomever it touches. Now imagine we could tweak our political system that way,” Blais said.
In addition to the public presentation, the artists will be participating in classes and running a workshop at 9:30 a.m. on Friday in 420 Chadborne Hall. The workshop is titled “Maine Kampf,” a play on words from Hitler’s book “Mein Kampf.” A schedule of other events is available on the new media department Web site.
Eryk Salvaggio, president of the student group the New Media Society believes that “they are definitely a controversial group, and people might not like everything they do, but their work is designed to make people ask themselves why they might not like it.”
The main event, “Clone Wars: Reality Hacking with 0100101110101101.org,” will take place from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28 in 100 Lord Hall. The event, organized by Still Water Media Lab and the New Media Department, is free to the public.
