Title: Theory Makes Me Cry : Working in Autonomy
Medium: Internet blogs, links, writings and a wax seal

available in english and italian (coming soon)

Collaborative Blog : http://theorymakesmecry..blogspot.com

A collaborative project between Giulia Cilla, Urduja Manaoag
and Jean-marie Reynier that threads memories, confessions and
reflections on self-organization into a letter, which you can print,
fold and pass it on. It has been made for 24/7: Open Desktop
CCC Projet Collectif Installation for Shedhalle's exhibition WORK
TO DO: Part 3. There are many layers in the project from a blog
which the spectator may print out his own copies as well as an
edition of 200 printed copies sealed with a wax emblem that
will be distributed at Shedhalle and other places. The style of
writing is critical in correspondence within the writing and to
the spectator. The spectator may continue to checkout the links
and emails the collaborators has left for them. Reynier describes
his memories of the women in his family, while Cilla poses
questions on the dynamics of group work and Manaoag writes
about a fictional email about a character in the Philippines who
has made her first email account, blog and talks about the
organization of her daily life.

On the edges of the letter are funny skype dialogues and
photographs of Cilla, Manaoag and Reynier. One of the dialogues
Cilla replies with an emoticon of a hand with a thumb's up, which
is juxtaposed with the photographs of Cilla's and Manaoag's hands
to pose questions of the medium in which they are working with -
from internet chats to moments of brainstorming ideas at the Maison
Communale de Plainpalais. Reynier models next to an emoticon
smoking a cigarette - need we say more? He comments how the
emoticons are so politically correct. Its all to funny the working
conditions for this self-organized group separated my distance,
time or as Cilla suggests- "little instances of poetry stolen in a busy life…"

The piece is evocative of a work in progress, it implies that the
letter wishes to be answered be each of the contributors. Cillia
questions the aesthetics of a work in progress and proceeds to
define the space by saying that the work in progress is a 'place
to ask questions and have a drink if you wish" - to take time and
engage socially. Mia Nonna in comparison lets you reflect upon
the evident histories of women and borders. It asks what could
possible childhood memories me in the aspect of the self-
organization of group's or one's self. The story expands the
definition, Reynier remarks -"These women formed a pirate
micro-society made of females . . . .". Manaoag's fictional email
embellishes and correspondences directly to the other two writings
by answering the questions they were asking as well as being an
open email for the reader. The reader may even respond to this
character with the email she has left or continue to learn
about her on her blog.

From the gathering of Italian mamas, confessions of frustration,
a fictional character who makes her first email account to people
who have met for the first time in a post graduate research group -
self-organization come in many diverse forms. Thus, Theory Makes
Me Cry: Working in Autonomy is an expression of these artist's
heartfelt moments - fragments that form a complex narrative.
Please print a few, fold them, pass it on and exchange.