Daniel G. Andújar
b. 1966, Almoradí, Spain; lives in Barcelona, Spain
World’s Best Democracy, 2018–19
Daniel G. Andújar works across the fields of art, politics, research and the appropriation of digital technologies. In the World’s Best Democracy he exposes the framework and the guts of the archive that act as a ‘fascist machine’. But a fascist machine can be redirected and used against its original leader – hence the situationist strategy of détournement. A dissident and radical machine can be redirected against its original mechanics, perhaps by hacking its software. At a time when algorithms dictate our present and monitor our existence, it is worth paying attention to the algorithms that have been influencing our political system for decades.
In a world saturated with images, media impacts and all kinds of advertising intrusions, it remains surprising to see how the marketing techniques of political propaganda still manage to find a place amid so much competition, still manage to get their messages across and evoke their siren song. Reflecting on how political propaganda has acted upon us through the concentration of media dependent on economic and political interests, one can recall the history and tactics of National Socialism to understand that this is not something new. The strategy is still clear and, in the context of highly invasive digital media and social networks, little has changed.
In fact, the strategy has evolved to become more personalised. Through sophisticated algorithms our governments and institutions, political and economic powers, continue to feed their propaganda, directing it to global channels of imposition for hegemony and homogeneity. Language becomes a tool of conspiracy and manipulation, an exercise of domination and domestication, rather than a language of democracy, an artificial universe that seems completely real.
CONTRIBUTIONS
World’s Best Democracy (Algorithm + Political Slogans), 2019
Public interventions at Bergen Kunsthall and other locations
Variable dimensions
Système pratique et raisonné de représentation proportionelle, 2019
Digital print, colour
Presented at Bergen Kunsthall
World’s Best Democracy (Political Slogans), 2019
Series of drawings executed by a robot, 42 x 59,4 cm, each
Based on a collection of political slogans from various parties, countries and times
Co-produced by Bergen Assembly 2019
Presented at Bergen Kjøtt
Battle Cry, 2019
Colouring book, 11×16 cm, 192 pages
Co-produced by Bergen Assembly 2019
Presented at Bergen Kjøtt
How To Understand The D’Hondt Method (Democracy), 2018
Video, 32’50”
Presented at Bergen Kjøtt
Everyone has their particular vision of democracy, but few know their rules in depth. At a time when the algorithm dictates our present and monitors our existence, it is worth paying attention to the algorithms that have influenced our political system for decades. In 1878, Victor D’Hondt – a Belgian lawyer, salesman, mathematican, and jurist of civil law at Ghent University – surprised the world with his book The Proportional Representation of the Parties by Each Voter. Today, this method is called D´Hondt´s Method, and is among other countries, also used in Norway in order to best allocate mandates in a proportional manner during elections within the county councils.
Manifesto of the Communist Party, 2019
Video, colour, sound, 96’
Presented at Bergen Kjøtt
Animation reading the Manifesto of the Communist Party by Karl Marx .
RELATED EVENTS
Introduction Days and Opening of Belgin
With contributions by Daniel G. Andújar, Hans D. Christ, Iris Dressler, Hiwa K, Alexander Kluge, MultiTati (Tatiana Palanca), Viktor Neumann, and Simon Sheikh
•Talks, debates, performances, screenings, music, in English
•Belgin, Rasmus Meyers allé 3, 5015 Bergen
•Landmark, Kunsthall, Rasmus Meyers allé 5, 5015 Bergen
•Admission free
RELATED PLATFORMS
Exhibition