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"By focusing on time-based work, this group show aims to redefine how visual arts can be experienced." [from the e-flux press release for "IL TEMPO DI POSTINO -- A GROUP SHOW"] Hi Sarah and CRUMBS, In addition to all the questions you've rightly raised about the claims this show is making for itself (and I agree, they express a shocking ignorance of the history of time-based art), I have another: in what way exactly will this exhibition NOT be occupying space? As the saying goes, "Everybody gotta be SOMEwhere." Annick's YES response to Sarah's plaintive query -- "Gosh, is the gap between the Media arts world and the contemporary art world so big??" -- is true also, alas. Marcia In a message dated 6/15/2007 3:23:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: hi crumbs as a complete aside from the interesting discussion re Second Life, I just got this notice in my inbox about a series of commissions to happen in Manchester curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Philippe Parreno (_http://www.manchesterinternationalfestival.com_ (http://www.manchesterinternationalfestival.com) ). It reads: The question becomes... what if having an exhibition is not a way to occupy space, but a way to occupy time...? With up to 15 minutes of ‘exhibition time’, each artist is creating their own distinctive work - inviting guest performing artists, specially commissioned music - but none using film or video - to create this new form of group show. By focusing on time-based work, this group show aims to redefine how visual arts can be experienced. Set in a theatre, it transforms the established gallery model into an exhilarating, shared audience experience. "The title of the piece relates to my notion of ‘postman time’, and the idea that this exhibition is delivered to the audience rather than the audience walking through it in their own time,” comments Philippe Parreno. Hans Ulrich Obrist adds, “One of the things that Philippe and I have been discussing since we met each other is what would happen if you have a group show exhibition where each artist would not get space, but each artist would get time? And so that is the point of departure. And through a dialogue with Manchester International Festival – where everything is new – there was a possibility for the first time to actually realise this.” Gosh, is the gap between the Media arts world and the contemporary art world so big?? (the list of artists includes the likes of Matthew Barney, Douglas Gordon, Rirkrit Tiravanija) First, none using film and video? Second, the first time this has been possible? What about artists-TV projects? Streaming web projects? make-tv.net? Third, is there no sense here of a history of performance art? or artists interventions in theatre spaces (such as Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller's videowalks)? It seems as though they've asked artists to become commissioners (or impressarios?). Is it all to be 'live'? Hmmm. If anyone is going, please report back. Sarah ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.