Don’t Let the Media Have the Monopoly on the Freedom of Speech, 21 July – 8 August 2008, Residency at ISIS Arts
For three weeks, from 21 July to 8 August 2008 I was based at ISIS Arts, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, undertaking a mini research residency. I was given the opportunity by the Freee Art Collective to work with one of their text and photographic works ‘Don’t Let the Media have the Monopoly on the Freedom of Speech’. Through research and collaboration a new context was brought to the original slogan and a project developed involving the initiation of a social programme. The meaning of the slogan was taken into account with the creation of the work, and disseminated online through this site.
The individuals and groups involved were active in developing the project and the further dissemination of the slogan. The idea being that the slogan is something that the user agrees with, adopts as their own, before disseminating it further.
Freee’s slogans connect with their interest in the public sphere – the space according to Jurgen Habermas where opinion formation takes place – a space where people can come together voluntarily to debate ideas through their own beliefs and reasons.
