3- Around the Boz in 80 Years

Around The Boz In 80 Years

Wednesday 26 March 2008

6 Questions for a Forest of Souls…

What is the project about ?

First of all, it is based on vanity, seeing as none of the initiators of “Around The Boz In 80 Years” will see its conclusion.

Second of all, it is a collective work, open to everyone, regardless of his or her background (racial, religious, professional, etc.), with the intention of capturing the soul of the world.

“But what else “, one may ask, “how will we conceive it and what form will it take?”

In its raw form, “Around The Boz In 80 Years” will consist of a questionnaire, emanating from the Spirit of Boz. There are six questions posed, whose “characteristics” are immediately clear. Here are the six questions:

1) DOES GOD EXIST ?

2) HOW DO YOU CHARACTERIZE THIS PERIOD ?

3) HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE ?

4) ARE YOU HAPPY ?

5) IS SEXUALITY IMPORTANT ?

6) WHO AM I ?

The question’s answers will make up the project’s substance, and be written on PAPER (which is fragile, by definition).

Only after receiving 5,000 responses to the questionnaire will we use METAL, in order to “immortalize” these living testimonials.

The project will transform itself from fragile to immortal in two stages:

1. The answers will be placed in a metal case by blocks of 500. The cases will be sealed.

2. After reaching a number of ten cases (10×500), we will erect a black metallic pillar in which to deposit the ten cases at regular intervals.

It is then that we will have achieved our true goal: to create a reference work, which consists of dozens of these identical pillars, ultimately to preserve the spirit of an entire population and erect nothing less than this : A FOREST OF SOULS.

One last word before concluding:

Obviously, attempting such a project means the beginning of a unique journey aimed at restoring a loosening social link. Today, we can’t foresee what challenges, developments and discoveries that will rule over the project’s environment. Neither can we anticipate the human networks it will generate, and their synergies. Communities, real and virtual, could be developed around this project to ponder its implications. Groups of men and women could join together with a common aim, in opposition to some commonly held views in our societies: cult of stars, membership to a sect, self-withdrawal, participation in trivial and temporary games - as so many artificial, by-products of an IDEAL to regain.

 

Signed : Julien Friedler

This work will be produced by the Foundation Friedler for Contemporary Art, who will oversee it until its end.

To participate,

- answer the six questions by email, mentioning your name, age, gender and nationality;

- or download the questionnaire and send it to this address :

Friedler

2 Avenue des Citronniers

MC-98 000 Monaco

 

"Around The Boz In 80 Years" questionnaire

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Around The Boz In… Handwritten Highlights (II)- 2008

Wednesday 26 March 2008

A new selection of handwritten answers to the 6 question of Julien Friedler’s "Around the Boz In 80 Years" art project, received from all around the world. This post will be updated continuously.

A dialogue of the deaf :

        A 63 years old Chinese woman :

Who am I ?

Answer : "I am a disciple of Buddha."

        A 63 years old Chinese man :

Who am I ?

Answer : "An ordinary citizen of the People’s Republic of China."

The  twin :

        A young Bulgarian man :

Are you happy ?

Answer : "Absolutely not, I don’t know this dimension. It’s a rare and strange feeling. I can’t remember the last time I was happy. But it’s life. Some people really live, the others try to do the same : really live. Thus this question : Do I really have some pleasure to live ? I don’t have any answer, but I do hope others have one."

Who am I ?

Answer : "A very ordinary boy, without any ambition, even any dream. This boy do things that give him some pleasure : plays football, rides his bike, and since recently, do fitness. These leasure activities are entertaining his rather gloomy days. This boys is a tiny drop in the ocean wishing to become invisible."

Prophetic :

        A 41 yers old Bulgarian man :

How do you see the future ?

Answer : "Tomorrow, I will tell you if I’m surprised."

Exhaustive :

        A young 22 Chilean gifted for poetry woman   :

1) DOES GOD EXIST ?

There is a forest of thousand-year-old myrtles on an island named Chaullin, in the tenth region of my country.

2) HOW DO YOU CHARACTERIZE THIS PERIOD ?

We are living a « RococoAnarcoPop » and "peoplelized" era.

3) HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE ?

With special garment : snow friendly and sun proof.

4) ARE YOU HAPPY ?

Yes, outside, to escape the pandemonium of bombs. If there is no cops.

5) IS SEXUALITY IMPORTANT ?

No, it’s for rabbits !

Sex and the Rabbit : detail from an "Around the Boz..." questionnaire

6) WHO AM I ?

I am Calama, the desert, the sun, a girl with long canines wearing a dress.

Sensible :

        A young Chilean woman :

Are you happy ?

Answer : "Yes, I am infinitely happy, but I’m crying."

 

Exception :

         Nationality : "from North, from South, from above and a bit on the side" (Wu Min G)

Biter bit :

        A young Brazilian man :

Is sexuality important ?

Answer : "We must be sure that we love the other one to avoid infidelity. Me, for example, I love women, sometimes I love men, and sometimes I don’t love any of them. I have only one doubt, is sexuality important ?"

Abyssal :

        A 34 years old woman :

Who am I ?

Answer : "Nobody."

Mysterious :

        An alien from Chile :

How do you characterize this period  ?

Answer :

Around the Boz... Alien example

Mickey Mouse :

        A 22 years old Chinese man :

Who am I ?

Answer : “It’s my secret. And you want my photo ? No !"

Around the Boz... example : Mickey

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Animated

Monday 22 October 2007


Spirit of Boz -animation
directed by Pablo Rios, inspired by Julien Friedler’s Spirit of Boz.
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Around The Boz In… Internet Highlights (I)

Monday 22 October 2007

A selection of answers to the 6 question of Julien Friedler’s "Around the Boz In 80 Years" art project, received from internet (through forums,emails,comments,… all around the world). This post will be updated continuously.

The last word :

        A 31 years old writer from Quebec (by email)  :

Who am I  ?

Answer : “Something which will disappear effortless".

One never knows :

        A 31 years old writer from Quebec (by email)  :

Does God exist  ?

Answer : “Very often among the ideas unknown to me".

About our condition :

        An american woman in Prague (on this forum)  :

Who am I  ?

Answer : “I’m just a box, in a cage".

Thank you :

        An american woman from Glengary (on this forum)  :

Who am I  ?

Answer : i am/we are a multiple, living in a system of many alters…each one with a voice…we are of different ages and sexes…
we are fairly co-conscious, having some who watch, analyze and process…
in the 3D world, we spend much time ’switching’ alters, as different parts respond differently to situations…
we could go back and answer this questionnaire as another, who would have different answers than those we’ve written here…

peace to you and good luck, with your project ".

About our condition :

        An american woman in Prague (on this forum)  :

Who am I  ?

Answer : “Why not ?"

(via Flickr)

Hard :

        A 42 years old American man (on this forum)  :

Does God exist  ?

Answer : “If he does, he hates us".

Judicious :

        An American woman from Pennsylvania  (on this forum)  :

How do you see the future ?

Answer : “With my crystal ball".

(more…)

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Around The Boz In… Handwritten Highlights (I)

Monday 22 October 2007

A selection of handwritten answers to the 6 question of Julien Friedler’s "Around the Boz In 80 Years" art project, received from all around the world. This post will be updated continuously.

The Number of Life :

        A Chinese man  :

Who am I?

Answer : “1/6 000 000 000."

        A Chinese man  :

Who am I?

Answer : “0."

Precisely :

        A 50 years old man from Pekin :

Does God exist ?

Answer : “I am of Hui nationality. I believe the existence of Divinity, but I believe even more the Creation of my own dream."

Sentimental :

        A young 22 old Chinese man :

Are you happy ?

Answer : “If you are happy, so I am happy."


Fondamental :

        A 50 years old man from Pekin :

Does God exist ?

Answer : “I don’t know which God you talk about. The Chinese God or the foreign God ?"

So true :

        A 25 years old man from Buenos Aires :

How do you characterize this period  ?

Answer : “It’s furiously sordid. The other day, I was walking back to home and I saw a group of pigeons pecking crumbs of bread on the sidewalk. They were jostling each other while I was getting nearer, but I didn’t want to make them flee and interrupt this happy moment. When I got nearer, the pigeons suddenly flew away and I saw, in a corner, a pigeon hurt by pecks. Of course, he was trying to fly away as I went nearer. At this moment, I felt horribly. I don’t know why but I think it’s a nice metaphor which reflects our period. ”

Is sexuality important  ?

Answer : “Oh yes ! It makes me forget about the pigeons.

(more…)

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