Robert Krokowski’s FW installation at the Simone Weil Pavilion in Geneva answers this question in a very distinct way…

Fraktalwerk was a guest for two weeks at the “Pavillon Simone Weil” in Geneva, Switzerland – a place of shared thinking, reading and exchange created by the Swiss artist and initiator of the project Thomas Hirschhorn. Fraktalwerk was invited to participate by the Simone Weil Collective/Berlin.

Embracing the workshop character of the pavilion, Fraktalwerk had invited the public and other participants to become part of the working process themselves and to leave a red trace that connects with others – and to give an object, which has long lost its utility, a new and different purpose within the artistic process. Everyone had been asked to bring everyday objects along that had lost their purpose, were damaged, or whose original use had even been forgotten. 

The black fabric on the easel, the red thread, the needle – and the small shelf in front of it. The photographer stood ready to document traces and objects; interested visitors came – and left again. For there was one thing we had not factored in: people rarely carry such objects around with them. Even less so when visiting an art project.

So, we changed the brief: now, a personal object that happened to have found its way into the pavilion – brought along in a trouser pocket, a rucksack, or on one’s person – could take its place on the small shelf, after the red trace had been embroidered a little further. This time, interested visitors came – and stayed. And they embroidered, chatted, and placed their items.

This, too, is what it means: to realise. Not wanting to push through your own thing, your own concept, your own idea, but joining forces with others – and seeing what becomes possible as a result. 

Thanks to all Participants and their objects:

Libertad Esmeralda, object: no idea
Juan Cruz Paz, object: no idea
Paul, object: barometer
Thomas Hirschhorn, object: invention of an object with two pencils
Gabriel Barta, object: tote bag
Bartek, object: lion’s head
Pauline & Romana, object: cap
Julia’s girlfriend, object: camera
Thomas Hirschhorn, object: Simone Weil amulet
Asam, object: bead
Monika Barer, object: archangel
Antonie, object: playing card
Anne Celie, object: granddaughter’s drawing
Lelociech Bogdan Dwonih, object: bracelet
Tomosa Radoy, object: ring
Giles Dans, object: notebook
Mohamed, object: first drawing of the pavilion
Joäo Rodrigues, object: glasses
Joaquín and Julia, object: wristwatch
Ngor Muri, object: hand-painted flowerpot
Roxane, object: bracelet