The Prize

Along with the recent graduates, students and young collaborators from around Auckland, we will be selecting New Zealand's Greatest Idiot.

What will this person win?

Utilising Snowhite Gallery at the School of Design, Unitec, our group will prepare a work of art honoring this person. Since this is a collaborative project, we will decide in situ and develop a video, performance, installation or combination of these forms to be exhibited at MIC Toi Rerehikoi.

Factory of Found Clothing (Gluklya and Tsaplya)

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.

The Greatest Idiot in New Zealand

Previous Blog postings will give you a background to this project and the two visiting Russian artists Gluklya and Tsaplya. It also provides a biography of the New Zealand collaborators.

What follows is a description of their New Zealand project the Greatest Idiot in New Zealand.

This project is part of the Auckland festival 2009 and will be exhibited at MIC Toi Rerehikoi from 6 March. The project occurs on the occasion of the residency at Unitec School of Design of two internationally reknowned St Petersburg based Russian 'situationist' artists Tsaplya and Gluklya of the 'Factory of Found Clothing'. A full description of the Factory with their manifesto and illustrations of art works are earlier in this Blog. This project has received support from CNZ, Unitec, Auckland Festival and MIC Toi Rerehikoi.

While on their residency they are running a special public project 'The greatest Idiot in New Zealand' which involves searching for New Zealand's greatest idiot; an idiot not in the sense we might think, but instead based on Dostoyevsky's enigmatic character Prince Myshkin. In Dostoyevsky's damning critique of Russia's 19th Century ruling class; Prince Myshkin is a guileless character that arrives onto an incestuously entangled aristocratic scene, penniless and without object. His belief in truth and beauty, his direct language soon land him the title of 'idiot'. Yet as he is ridiculed, he is privately respected for his inner wisdom and some even seek solace and advise in his company. Although a complex and ambiguous character he stands for compassion, tolerance, love and friendship amidst a bitter contest for wealth and status.

Yael Gezentsvey

Hello. I'm Yael Gezentsvey. I have just completed a BA in Acting at Unitec, and before that I completed a BA in Film and Theatre at Victoria University in Wellington. I was born in Venezuela and moved to New Zealand as a baby. I'm an actress, singer, artist, musician, teacher, collaborator, creator, daughter, sister, wife, friend and I am very passionate about people, their stories and their essence. Film and theatre credits include A Piece of My Heart (TVNZ Tele-Feature 2008) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (ATC 2008)

Leanne Clayton

Born and raised in Auckland New Zealand, Leanne Clayton is of Samoan and European descent, graduated from the Auckland University of Technology in 2006 with a BVA in Visual Arts majoring in print making. Since graduating Leanne was an assistant curator for Jim Vivieaereworking on 'Black White Black Pearl' in 2008 at the Te Karanga Gallery. Subsequently she curated the exhibition 'Strengthening Sennit' 2008 at the St Paul St Gallery where the works of 15 young Pacific artists were showcased. Leanne has recently been involved with 'Whats That' 2008 exhibition at the Ramp Gallery in Hamilton and is currently exhibiting at the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts in Taiwan for the 'Le Folauga' 2008-2009 exhibition; 'The Past Coming Forward'. Leanne is currently working on an exhibition for the Pan Pacific Nation in Hawaii responding to King David Kalakaua's dream of a Confederation of Pacific Nations to be showcased in March 2009.

Esther Page

I come from the ghetto which is West Auckland and this certainly has a strange effect on my personality and the kind of work I produce. Quirky photos of family members in leotards and girls in togs on bathroom floors. I also enjoy taking photos of adolescents (particularly my brother), model railways and cake floats. I am also really interested in film and animation; hopefully these will be incorporated into my practice one day.

Hannah Clarke

I am twenty two and finishing what feels like what has been a mighty haul of a Bachelor of Design majoring in Media. When recently asked 'What's good to do in Auckland' by a friend traveling from California, all I could suggest were places or activities outside of the city. Auckland is a great means for getting to other areas. Places with magnificently wild beaches, fascinating native beaches, fascinating native bush and many relaxed yet interesting little communities. I was lucky to grow up in Muriwai, one of these such places. Living there may have lead me to this view of the city and has helped me to appreciate and prefer the simple, honest things in life. This is definitely reflected in my design practice. I enjoy bike riding, snowboarding (as well as yeti's); the art of storytelling and the process of turning kooky ideas into reality. Mediums I especially enjoy are illustration, motion graphics, typography and screen-printing. It is always interesting observing the different ways these are responded to.