Invitation to Participate from Gluklya and Tsaplya

Here is the project...

We invite you to partiicipate in our competition 'The Greatest Idiot in New Zealand'. We hope that this competition will be different from the ordinary.

What do we mean by 'idiot'?

We have in mind the hero of Dostoyevsky's novel 'The Idiot' - Prince Myshkin. The goal of our project is to find and identify New Zealanders who embody the qualities of Myshkin and apply those traits in order to solve contemporary social problems. Despite the fact that the image of Myshkin in the novel is contradictory and ambivalent, Myshkin stood for love and compassion. We believe that their is something in his character which we can learn from as we face the crises and conflicts of the 21st century. Since Myshkins New Zealand heirs are constitutionally incapable of identifying themselves, we can call upon you to nominate your own candidates for your country's Greatest Idiot.

Please keep in mind that your idiot should be someone who has taken a critical or radical approach to solving a concrete social problem in your communities, work places or the country as a whole. But it might be someone quite humble-like a neighborhood person who looked after all the stray kids in your street.

How can you participate?

First you can read (or reread) Dostoyevsky's novel, if you wish or you can get a sense of his character from;

http;//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Idiot_(novel)

First you may interpret the novel or Myshkins character however you like - let your imagination and compassion run free as you try to project your sense of the novel onto your own situation - be it in your own neighborhood, workplace or society as a whole. Second, once you have found your own Idiot, you should put together a brief but persuasive arguement about why she/he is New Zealand's Greatest Idiot. This 'nomination' may take the form of a written or recorded text, a video, a photo essay - whatever you like; there are no strict criteria but you need to do this before February 5th 2009. Please send your digital submissions to the following email;

Marcus Williams (curator)

thegreatestidiot@gmail.com

If you need snail mail; contact Marcus at this email and an address will be supplied.