800-178-968 mixed media 2002-2003
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
A Toll-Free Number trying to establish with you an obsessive and addictive relationship.
Calling you back.
Even after a few weeks.
Pleading with you to come back.
1. 800-178968 IS SEARCHING FOR YOU...
On December 2002 the Toll-Free Number starts self-promoting, calling over 10.000 people across Italy.
Sometimes people are reached more than once.
Original phone Messages (Italian Language)
Niente
Democratico
I Tuoi Giocattoli
Semplce Contatto
Contatto
Chiamata Natalizia
English Translation of the phone Messages
Anything
Democratic
Your Toys
Real Need
Contact
Xmas Call
2. ...THEN YOU CALL 800-178968...
The First Time
Hug Me
La Prima Volta
Abbracciami
On January 2003 the Toll-Free Number is activated nation-wide. It is free from both fixed phones and mobiles.
People start to call.
However is it difficult to understand what "service" is being offered.
Original Voice from the call - excerpts (Italian Language)
English Translation of excerpts from the call
3. ...AND 800-178968 CALLS YOU BACK
Small Favour
Sunday
Candy
Warmly
Miss You
All Day Long
Boring
Cock-a-doodle-doo
Goodnight
Shame on You!
Respirare
Domenica
Gommine
Mi Manchi
Vestiti Meglio
Tutto il Giorno
Chicchirichì
Noia
Buonanotte
Vergognati!
Sorry about Earlier
Scusami per Prima
People who called the Toll-Free Number had their number memorized by it.
Each and every one will be called. For months. Sometimes more than once a day.
English Translation of the phone Messages
Original phone Messages (Italian Language)
A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE PROJECT
800-178968 is a project of an invasive nature, capable of insinuating itself into the home and mobile phone of people contacted, violating their privacy and becoming a part of their daily life. The adverts of it - which began three months before the activation of the service, hid among information channels - and adopted their language, code and instruments. This enabled it to reach a general audience (as well as selected art critics) completely unaware: thus vulnerable and fragile because incapable of recognizing the "artifact".
800-178968 deals with privacy violating it. And of subtle morbidisity by applying it. People lacked a sort of "art security belt" to protect themselves as they always do when "contemplating" an artifact.
Many people were surprised and amused by this voice that filled their empty space, while other were utterly annoyed, menacing sues against me and the gallery who first host the project (Galleria Pianissimo, Milano).
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Name 800-178968
Year 2002-2003
Materials IVR System, Call Center, Telephonic Network