[NetBehaviour] FLU POWER FLU

[marc garrett]

Press Release: September 26, 2007

FLU POWER FLU
FLU as physical and mental, positive and negative influenza / influence.
POWER as capacity to exercise influence, control, authority over others.
A trip and a spot into centers of power of past and actual Europe.
Into authority, nation-hood and globalization.

by Stefano Cagol

BeursSchouwburg
Brussels
2007 - 2008

Opening: September 29, 2007

DETAILS:
WHO: Stefano Cagol
WHAT: public art installation
WHERE: external facade, BeursSchouwburg, BRUSSELS
CURATOR: Cis Bierinckx, Artistic Director
OPENING: September 29, 2007
DURATION: 2007 - 2008
WEB: http://www.flupowerflu.com
PRESS & COMMUNICATION: Kris Mouchaers kris at beursschouwburg.be


Beursschouwburg
A. Ortsstraat 20-28 1000 Brussels
T: 02 550 03 50
F: 02 550 03 40
http://www.beursschouwburg.be

BeursSchouwburg is proud to announce the second project for the external 
facade of the art center commissioned to Italy-based artist Stefano 
Cagol. We are preparing this project as a 'big surprise' for the city of 
Brussels during the next Nuit Blanche.
It is a large dimension neon writing FLU POWER FLU on the facade of 
BeursSchouwburg art center in Brussels.

FLU POWER FLU in Brussels takes the form of public intervention, 
highlighting contemporary influences, beliefs, pre/misconceptions and 
belonging. Power in various forms extends its influence to our daily 
lives. Moving and interacting within/outside "centers of power" of past 
and actual Europe, be it cultural, political or financial, FLU POWER FLU 
aptly questions their authority and invites reflexivity yet inevitably 
becoming an accomplice to these power games.

FLU POWER FLU in Brussels will feature a white neon writing on the 
facade of the building of BeursSchouwburg in the historical heart of the 
city, of the "capital" of Europe, using typical glittering tools of 
propaganda and hinting at the universal appeal for power, at once 
resisted yet irresistible. The neon will shine in three different 
phases: the first is FLU FLU; the second is POWER, the third is FLU 
POWER FLU. In this way the project highlights how "power", as manifested 
through the visible centers of respected authority, influences inhabits 
every aspect of contemporary society and is silently rooted in every 
individual. So the intervention into the city's political, financial and 
cultural "centre of power" invites a wide public to re-examine our 
understanding of identity in relation to authority, nation-hood and 
globalization. Inviting reflexivity, it pertinently questions the 
authority of these influence centers while highlighting their 
significance in framing a sense of belonging, pride and unity. Anyway, 
suspended in-between the negative and positive, familiar and implied 
meanings of the terms "power" and "flu", Cagol's engagement with the 
public underlines the complexity of power and authority. Neither 
definitive nor univocal, these concepts are infinitely expanded.
With the words FLU POWER FLU emblazoned on the building, this project 
continues Cagol's investigations into contemporary influences. It 
developed in 2007 with the BIRD FLU VOGELGRIPPE intervention in 
Auguststrasse at the Berlin Biennale, and with the POWER STATION 
satellite intervention at the Singapore Biennale.

THE ARTIST:

At the same time Stefano Cagol in October will have other two public 
projects.
The former is at Kunst Merano Arte (opening on October 5th) and with a 
BIG action with a sort of parade of a marching band and flags (installed 
for 2 moths on the street) in the heart of the ancient city and a large 
dimension installation inside the museum + a double video-projection. 
For this show he will have a partner that will realize a very 
interesting floor project: Stealth from Rotterdam.
While the latter (opening on October 6th) is a permanent installation in 
Bozen, Italy titled CHESS TIME, TIME INFLUENCES: it's a 211 square feet 
chess platform on black & white marble, with diffused engraved words 
about time, in Italian and German language as the two cultures of this 
border region. It's part of a City project about 'urban time'.

Stefano Cagol (http://www.stefanocagol.com) was born in '69 in Italy, 
and studied at Brera Academy in Milan and at Ryerson University in 
Toronto. Lives and works in Italy.
In May, 2008 he will hold a solo show at Priska Juschka Fine Art, New York.
In 2007, in autumn he realizes a solo public art installation as a one 
year long commission for entiremuseum façade at BeursSchouwburg in 
Brussels, a project - together with Stealth.ultd, Rotterdam - at Kunst 
Merano Arte for 'From_and_to', and a permanent public art installation 
in Bolzano for 'Time Code'. He held a solo show at NADiff -New Art 
Diffusion, Tokyo, a solo public art intervention in Venice called "Head 
Flu", and was present at National Museum of Arts of Hanoi for 
'Tendencies of contemporary research', at National Gallery of New Delhi 
for 'The edge of vision', and at New Chinatown Barbershop of Los Angeles 
for 'Bellavita'. In 2006 he realized an official satellite project at 
Singapore Biennale, and an off-project at Berlin Biennale. And he took 
part in the 'Zoo logical garden' group show at Harry Malter park of 
Ghent. Among his previous exhibitions, we remember his solo show in 2000 
at Mart - Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto.