Seit 2005 ist das Projekt FLAG METAMORPHOSES der in Düsseldorfer lebenden Schweizer Künstlerin Myriam Thyes schon in verschiedenster Form gezeigt worden. In der wachsenden Serie von derzeit 33 Animationen verschiedener Künstler wandeln sich die Flaggen der Welt in Flash-Animationen und hinterfragen die Beziehungen von Ländern zueinander.

FLAG METAMORPHOSES ist ein partizipatives Projekt und betont die Veränderlichkeit der Beziehungen zwischen Ländern und Identitäten: Indem wir sie in steter Verwandlung neu erschaffen, unsere Bräuche und Symbole mit anderen mischen und von anderen abgrenzen, bleiben unsere Kulturen lebendig. Symbole für Identitäten werden zu Elementen von Dialogen.

FLAG METAMORPHOSES

梁钥 Yue LIANG - Farbwerte participant from Shanghai, China (Exhibition in Berlin)

Following is a casual dialogue written by myself about using the national flag of Germany to create a piece of work, with the two roles named as “a” and “b”.

A: After resting for several days, it’s the time to use the national flag of Germany to create a piece of work.

B: Well. But I have nothing but lousy ideas. Maybe they’re improper.

B: Germany is very open to allow people to create pieces of work by using its national flag.

A: Sure. I have no courage to present my lousy idea.

A: After receiving the national flag, I put it on my work table so that I could see it while using the computer. But there’s little significance. I could think of nothing but the lousy idea.

B: Yeah. Actually, I’m in a trance most of the time.

A: Exactly.

B: I just couldn’t imagine how a Chinese create works of art with the national flag of Germany.

A: Sure. I’m at a loss. My first plan is to hang the national flag in the balcony and expose it to the weather to see how much ash there will be on the flag.

B: You are really a fool of fools. Do you want to show how dirty the air in Shanghai is recently?

A: Well. It seems that my plan is unsuitable. The real estate industry in Shanghai is in full swing. There are too many construction sites. There’s even sandstorm in the city. If my plan is implemented, it will smear the city’s image.

B: I think the hot real estate industry is a lame excuse. No ash will spread as long as workers construct buildings in a more civilized way. You may walk around the construction sites in Germany. I found all building materials in the country were covered with cloth. It’s really a civilized practice.

A: There’s a slight digression. We may come back to the subject.

B: I have no idea.

A: Why did you agree to participate in the exhibition while you had no ideal plan?

B: I just thought there would be many workable ideas. God knows why none of them is presentable.

A: How about saying some unpleasant words?

B: Let me see. You know, unpleasant things are nothing but bygones.

A: Then it doesn’t make any sense to mention unpleasant things the world knows.

B: Say nothing? Then what can we write on the national flag?

A: Why?! It turns out that you still want to finish the task. Good or bad, anything can be written. For instance, Germany’s beer is palatable, but there are too many fats; vegetable dishes made by Germans are distasteful, but meat is very nice; I don’t understand German, etc.

B: Such sentences are anything but eye-catching.

A: Do you intend to tip off sensational news, such as porn, crime and drug abuse?

B: You’re convinced there are such pieces of news?

A: Nonsense! Sensational news can be found in all countries.

B: But it’s rare in our country.

A: That’s because you haven’t heard such news. Otherwise, the policemen in our country are omnipotent. It’s really a tough task to catch scoundrels in such a big country!

B: Why do you mention our country? Let’s come to the subject of Germany……

A: Oh. Do you want to talk about the sex industry? The sex industry in Germany is lawful. All sex workers pay taxes. People in red light districts are mostly visitors, with Asians accounting for the biggest part.

B: Asians?

A: Sure. All service industries in Germany provide invoice. So business in the country is booming.

B: OK. Let’s move on to crime. How about the public order there?

A: I haven’t been robbed. I always take a devious route upon seeing ill-intentioned guys. My wallet and mobile phone were both stolen while I was in Shanghai.

B: Wow, you shouldn’t mention that! You should never wash your dirty linen in public. Moreover, that’s all due to your carelessness. There’s nothing to do with the public order.

A: Well, I’ll take 5 yuan with me next time I go outside and leave my wallet and mobile phone at home. Oh, it’s also not safe. What if a thief seizes the chance to break into my home while I’m away?

B: I don’t think you will be the sucker. There are tens of thousands of households. It won’t be so coincidental that the thief breaks into your home. If you are the lucky dog, you may buy lottery tickets.

A: Buying lottery tickets? They are fraudulent. I have bought lottery tickets for several years, but haven’t won even 5 yuan.

B: Fraudulent? You might say that out of jealousy. Each time a rich man will be created.

A: Oh, no wonder there are so many wealthy people. Many of them get rich by drawing lottery tickets.

B: Definitely. So you may buy regularly. Maybe you will win a prize in your lifetime. As an old saying goes, “Every thing goes to him who waits!”

A: Is that so?

B: Oh my! Catch the chance, or you’ll regret.

A: Alas! When can an office worker like me buy Audi? I’ll be lucky enough if I have a little pocket money to buy liquor after paying the home loan.

B: Liquor? You’re so easy to be content. They say the annual income of North Koreans is a little more than 100 yuan.

A: What a miserable life! That’s probably a rumour. Why? It’s the biggest adversity to live there.

B: Well, get back to the original point of Germany.

A: Alas! I have nothing to say. I’m rather vexed. I’m sleepy. When can I have the luck to draw a prizewinning ticket……?

B: You may stop daydreaming……

A: But you have advised me to catch each and every chance to be rich!

B: What I have meant is you’ll have a chance to draw a prizewinning ticket in your lifetime, but that’s only a chance…… Do you know probability?

A: Cut the bullshit…… hu~hu~hu~ (snoring)……

“Die Ausstellung Farbwerte war ein politisches Statement der besonderen Art. Vordergründig ein Dialog mit Nationalflagge konnte man, 20 Jahre nach dem Fall der Mauer, das gebirgige Gelände der deutschen Identitat erkunden.

Farbwerte hat die Lücke geschlossen, die zwischen dem staatstragenden Pathos von 3.Oktober-Reden und dem leichten seichten Gesäusel vom Sommermärchen 2006 klaffte.

Eine Ausstellung von selbstreflektierenden Deutschen über die Bedeutung von Schwarz Rot Gold im Alltag von Deutschland. Farbwerte bedeutet mehr über Deutschland  lernen zu können.”

Josef Krieg, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung:

“Hätte sich vor zwanzig Jahren ein Kreativ Direktor mit der deutschen Nationalflagge beschäftigt? Undenkbar!

2009 lädt Robert Eysoldt einfach unterschiedlichste Menschen – national und international ein – sich mal ganz persönlich mit seinem Verhältnis zur deutschen Fahne zu beschäftigen. Und das Unverschämte: Sie tuen es.

Das Experiment ist geglückt, weil ungewöhnlich, verstörend und überraschend – man staunt, man denkt nach, man lächelt und diskutiert. Mehr soll auch gar nicht sein.”

Milena Preradovic, N24:

“Gleich vorneweg – mir hat die Ausstellung nicht nur gefallen – ich mochte sie. Und das ist viel im Umfeld so vieler deutscher Fahnen.

Die Bilder haben ein Stück meiner festgetackerten Erziehung aufgebrochen. Und sie haben mir gezeigt, dass eine Fahne nur das ist, was wir aus ihr machen.

PS: ich habe mich dabei ertappt, wie ich so manches Bild angelächelt habe. Oder besser – ich habe zurück gelächelt. Und das kann doch nur was Gutes bedeuten.”

Hermann Will, Herausgeber FineArtPrinter:

“Erst mit der Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft 2006 hab ich begriffen, dass es für uns Deutsche extrem wichtig ist, den Nationalstolz auch auszuleben und mit unserer Flagge Position zu beziehen.

Indem wir dies nämlich tun, nehmen wir den braunen Geistern am Rand der Gesellschaft die Flagge aus der Hand und unterbinden auf diese selbstverständliche Art den Missbrauch von Schwarz-Rot-Gold.

„Farbwerte“ ist zudem ein hervorragendes Projekt, unsere nationale Identität in der globalisierten Welt zu festigen.”