‣DREI FRAGEN AN THE SYSTEM COLLECTIVE

What were your first impressions of Chemnitz?

TheSystemCollective: “What we noticed were the many derelict sites. That a lot of things are being rebuilt – we have the feeling that we’ve arrived at the beginning of an unfolding process and that suits us quite well.”

Is there a favourite tool or software that you particularly enjoy working with?

TheSystemCollective:“It’s important to us to work with as much free software as possible. This includes Blender, for example, a 3D programme. On the programming side, we use Leaflet, Three.js and our own open source programmes; our map comes from OpenStreetMap. These are all programmes that have a participatory approach. We also try to convey this approach to the artists we introduce to the digital world. Normally, software makes the user the product; here, however, we are the owners of what we create. In the same way, it is important to us that the artists continue to own the work they place on our map.”

Tell us about one of your works that you like to think back on.

theSystemCollective: “Our artistic collaboration began at an exhibition in an empty shop in Vienna. The works created there were then digitally saved and transformed into virtual sculptures in the urban space. Artists from all disciplines were able to distribute their works throughout Vienna. The exhibition series was called “TheSystem – Phase.1″. Many artists whose exhibitions were cancelled approached us and motivated us to continue. It became clear: what we are doing is a museum without a fixed location. We are not curators per se, we share the platform for our own concepts and their placement in public space.”