Essay upon Projects, 2014

Eleven years of making projects, eleven years in half-deserted pedestrian areas, eleven years of bad pay, eleven years of too little sleep. It’s time to stage a classic. In 1697, Daniel Defoe, while fleeing from his creditors - he had lost money speculating on civet cats and diving bells, writes his Essay upon Projects. He conceptualises the modern cooperative, the banking system, the insurance and the betting shop. They seem like daydreams, plans for social sculptures, conjunctions of the many. Grandiose, know-it-all, con-man plans, like the plans of someone in love. In love with reality and in love with possibility, many in love, and always already bankrupt. All these daydreams have become realities. After Defoe, without Defoe, not even based on his designs. Made real by others. This is what our work should be like. Exactly like this.

317 years of making projects. Secret agency stages Defoe.

Gefördert von der Kulturbehörde Hamburg und dem Fonds Darstellende Künste.