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Egoism is a tricky topic. Some claim that it is our main source for action, while others try to keep a more selfless and idealistic point of view. Anyhow the term is very complex, and even if we accept selfishness as our primus motor it's not necessarily a bad thing. Assuming you have a conscience it's reasonable to think that you will feel satisfaction whilst donating money to charity, and hence your ego might encourage such actions.

Estonian/Norwegian artist Karolin Tampere deals with these questions and others in the memorable project shown at Art Moscow 2003. Documented on video we see an action performed in the streets of Moscow right before the opening of the fair. Dressed up in old-fashioned but tidy clothes Tampere takes on the image of the American dream, the wholesome, pious, well-behaved and patriotic young woman of the fifties/sixties. She confronts an older woman, begging in the streets and tells her that she will give her money if the woman sings a Russian folksong for her. After quite a long discussion the old woman sings and Tampere hands over the money. Even in Russia cash proves to be king. The unrestrained capitalism slowly sinks it's teeth into the former communist country. The approach is quite disturbing yet very interesting and effective. Instead of making a one-sided political statement she leaves many doors open and the audience is left pondering the issues. There is no heroic journalist pointing at the wrongs and no happy ending providing the viewer closure. Tampere seems just to be a part of the problem, or is she? The video is thoroughly unpleasant and leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, but that is perhaps the way we should feel. Exploitation should never be pleasant. Still one must question if Tampere's action, however degrading and detestable, is worse than not giving any money at all? And further: what are the right motifs for giving money away? Is it acceptable to have selfish reasons?

It was not an easy thing acting out the role of the bad guy. Tampere was planing a whole series of these actions, but after the first attempt she couldn't continue. It proved too difficult emotionally to carry on. This however, does not lessen the impact of the project. It is a highly controversial work that successfully manages to touch upon many difficult questions and leaves the audience with a new awareness. Even though some might have some reservations towards the ethics of the piece it's undeniably effective and Karolin Tampere is surely destined for even greater things ahead.


Sing a Song for Me Karolin Tampere Art Moscow 2003

Egoism is a tricky topic. Some claim that it is our main source for action, while others try to keep a more selfless and idealistic point of view. Anyhow the term is very complex, and even if we accept selfishness as our primus motor it's not necessarily a bad thing. Assuming you have a conscience it's reasonable to think that you will feel satisfaction whilst donating money to charity, and hence your ego might encourage such actions. Estonian/Norwegian artist Karolin Tampere deals with these questions and others in the memorable project shown at Art Moscow 2003. Documented on video we see an action performed in the streets of Moscow right before the opening of the fair. Dressed up in old-fashioned but tidy clothes Tampere takes on the image of the American dream, the wholesome, pious, well-behaved and patriotic young woman of the fifties/sixties. She confronts an older woman, begging in the streets and tells her that she will give her money if the woman sings a Russian folksong for her. After quite a long discussion the old woman sings and Tampere hands over the money. Even in Russia cash proves to be king. The unrestrained capitalism slowly sinks it's teeth into the former communist country. The approach is quite disturbing yet very interesting and effective. Instead of making a one-sided political statement she leaves many doors open and the audience is left pondering the issues. There is no heroic journalist pointing at the wrongs and no happy ending providing the viewer closure. Tampere seems just to be a part of the problem, or is she? The video is thoroughly unpleasant and leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, but that is perhaps the way we should feel. Exploitation should never be pleasant. Still one must question if Tampere's action, however degrading and detestable, is worse than not giving any money at all? And further: what are the right motifs for giving money away? Is it acceptable to have selfish reasons? It was not an easy thing acting out the role of the bad guy. Tampere was planing a whole series of these actions, but after the first attempt she couldn't continue. It proved too difficult emotionally to carry on. This however, does not lessen the impact of the project. It is a highly controversial work that successfully manages to touch upon many difficult questions and leaves the audience with a new awareness. Even though some might have some reservations towards the ethics of the piece it's undeniably effective and Karolin Tampere is surely destined for even greater things ahead.

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