Arthur Wicks Berlin Interview at Technical University. Invited by Professor Wolf Kahlen March 1984

This took place during my occupation at the Kunstlerhaus Bethanian in Berlin between February 1983 and March 1984.

Wolf Kahlen's invitation to give a performance at the Technical University in Berlin was the opportunity to develop the humanoid/robotic avatar; the withdrawn isolated persona that was able to communicate only through a lapel microphone and a stream of pre recorded banal platitudes.

First trip to Townsville in 1988 to meet staff of the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery; in particular Ross Searle who was the Director at that time. Earlier that year my clay coated head, namely the "interview" works had been tracked by the media in various states. Andrew Saw's interview on billboard on the ABC in 1986 also focused on this series of works.

Searle had earlier  suggested and planned that I do a similar performance in the Townsville mall and possibly a similar performance on Palm Island located a short distance from Townsville. For the latter I did make enquiries but drew blanks.

But the Townsville Mall work wne ahead.

Two years later – 1990 – the Transformer: Fields of Change exhibition would be shown at the Perc Tucker regional Gallery

The Townsville Mall performance involved covering. my head with white clay and fixing a small lapel microphone to my suit. I wandered through the Mall greeting various people with pre recorded banal greetings on an endless tape. A small amplifier in my pocket let me control the on & off switch.

     

   
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Morning coffee time with Damian Hackett, Stephen Baxter at Raptis Plaza, Gold Coast 1991.

Each with their lapel microphones uttering pre recorded platitudes