[ISEA2008] Artist Talk: Rainer Prohaska – KRFTWRK: Global Human Electricity

Artist Statement

“KRFTWRK” is a social-political statement and an ironic comment on current problems like production and waste of electricity in industrial states, and overweight and lack of fitness of its population. The target of “KRFTWRK” is to create a consciousness towards these topics with artistic measures. The project consists of an artistic part in real space, a part happening in both spaces (virtually and real), and a virtual part. The most important parts are the staging of the virtual company, the internet-based simulation of a global electricity network, and the realization of usable fitness tools producing power. The project is situated in the fields of architecture, installation, net art and fine art.

The official ambition of the company ‘KRFTWRK’ is the planning and realization of a new generation of industrial plants, which gain electric energy by muscle-power and the chemical processes of human bodies. For example, fitness tools operate generators and depict usable sculptures at the same time. Additionally a community will be formed, which communicates and carries the content of the project.

Artistic targets and measures
1. The appearance of ‘KRFTWRK’ on the Internet:
On the Internet ‘KRFTWRK’ will be staged as a ‘reliable’ and ‘globally acting’ company.
2. The Internet-based simulation of a global electricity network:
To test the global possibilities of ‘KRFTWRK’, there is the chance to simulate a virtual connection to an electricity network, and from there to the combined power supply on the website. After an anonymous registration on the ‘KRFTWRK’ website the participant can run a virtual human power plant. Per every ‘work unit’ on a home trainer or in a fitness studio, the participant informs the central coordination system on the ‘KRFTWRK’ website about the length and intensity of the training units. In the end the total amount of energy gained by the worldwide operating ‘KRFTWRK’ community can be recorded and evaluated.
3. Usable sculptures:
A central artistic part of ‘KRFTWRK’ in real space is the conception and production of usable power-producing sculptures, which consist of adapted or specially developed fitness tools with connected generators. Oversized hamster wheels for a couple of people at one time (with 5 meters diameter) Bike-fitness tools which provide workout space for 20 people.                  Project website: krftwrk.org

  • Rainer Prohaska, 1966, Krems/Austria. Experiments with modular temporary sculptures as architectonic interventions in public space and with mobile objects.   rainer-prohaska.net