Informations in English (2002)
engraved plastic plaques, telephone conversations, information

Informations In English was a monthlong public art work in Reykjavík and the Haukadalur Valley, Iceland. Small plaques of the type used in Iceland to relay didactic information were installed at sites commonly visited by tourists; Icelanders and European tourists could be expected to have ready access to mobile telephones. Each had a similar text directing the viewer to call for more information on the site. The viewer was able to call me at any time on my mobile telephone and I discussed the sites with them; I told them what I knew about the site, and each caller was asked if they had any other information that they thought I should be aware of. Any information gathered throughout the course of the month was added to an information file on each site, so that each viewer had the potential to change the experience of each subsequent viewer. During each call I explained that I was an artist and I discussed the nature of the project with the caller. Generally we discussed the landmarks they were calling from or the landmarks they planned to visit, and most callers discussed the project with me as an art work. Some callers offered little information, others told stories about their experiences at the site or gossiped about, for example, problems incurred in the construction of the site. Information gathered from callers during the course of the project was not checked for accuracy; callers were warned that some information could be inaccurate or false. The changing information files were available for anyone with an interest in the project.