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GIVE JOEL A GIFT, YOU WILL BE GIFTED, _VIA :MENTALKLINIK
30 AND ALMOST-DREAMS EXHIBITION BY JOËL ANDRIANOMEARISOA
SEPTEMBER 19, 2007 – OCTOBER 20, 2007
ZONE ZITAL, ANTANANARIVO

In this project ’30 and almost-dreams’ standing between a party/celebration and exhibition, :mentalKLINIK is interested in taking a daily life experience as frivolous as celebrating a birthday or receiving gifts, reviving it as a  relationship of “simply giving” between acquaintences and non-acquaintances but also positioning it in a groundless place in the relationship of gift as a tool in the give-take relationship.

Objects, non-objects, emotions, sounds, words, smells, desires, experiences, visions, plants etc. _Via :mentalKLINIK _will host all sorts of gifts/presents.

30 years, gifts for the 30 years that a gifted person, Joel, lived. Simply to be giving, because one has too much, for yesterday, for today, for tomorrow… For age 0  to age 30 and for the future… a treasure… A gift that Joel will also be giving to his audiance, simply to be giving, because he has too much… to remember and to be remembered…

:mentalKLINIK is envisioning areas where giftwrapping can be done, gifts are exhibited and gifts can be collected. For giftwrapping and packages, it envisions/plans wrapping choices (boxes, papers, envelopes, threads, ribbons etc.) Viewers will be able to wrap their presents in the various fun areas in this space but also take gifts from shelves, open them and look at them and then wrap them and put them back. Some tools such as screens, CD players will be available in the space, serving audiance’s needs.

The space will extend a sensation of an unfinished birthday party. Until the end of the exhibition, Joel’s birthday will be celebrated everyday. The joy and weirdness of giving gifts, the curiosity, making the gift public, stripping away its privacy and creating a treasure for Joel Andreanomearisoa. :mentalKLINIK requests all participants (other ~29 people) and audiance to bring a present/gift for Joel’s birthday party_VIA :mentalKLINIK _ space is constantly renewed by the audiance and participants.

Whereas :mentalKLINIK creates this occasion/form, designs the shell, mediates and also, as exhibition participant, is the first to receive the gifts and pass them on to Joel. At the same time, it passes on Joel’s gifts to the viewers in the _VIA :mentalKLINIK _ space.