marc garrett
Since the beginning
Works in London United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

ARTBASE (1)
PORTFOLIO (3)
BIO
Marc Garrett is co-director and co-founder, with artist Ruth Catlow of the Internet arts collectives and communities – Furtherfield.org, Furthernoise.org, Netbehaviour.org, also co-founder and co-curator/director of the gallery space formerly known as 'HTTP Gallery' now called the Furtherfield Gallery in London (Finsbury Park), UK. Co-curating various contemporary Media Arts exhibitions, projects nationally and internationally. Co-editor of 'Artists Re:Thinking Games' with Ruth Catlow and Corrado Morgana 2010. Hosted Furtherfield's critically acclaimed weekly broadcast on UK's Resonance FM Radio, a series of hour long live interviews with people working at the edge of contemporary practices in art, technology & social change. Currently doing an Art history Phd at the University of London, Birkbeck College.

Net artist, media artist, curator, writer, street artist, activist, educationalist and musician. Emerging in the late 80′s from the streets exploring creativity via agit-art tactics. Using unofficial, experimental platforms such as the streets, pirate radio such as the locally popular ‘Savage Yet Tender’ alternative broadcasting 1980′s group, net broadcasts, BBS systems, performance, intervention, events, pamphlets, warehouses and gallery spaces. In the early nineties, was co-sysop (systems operator) with Heath Bunting on Cybercafe BBS with Irational.org.

Our mission is to co-create extraordinary art that connects with contemporary audiences providing innovative, engaging and inclusive digital and physical spaces for appreciating and participating in practices in art, technology and social change. As well as finding alternative ways around already dominating hegemonies, thus claiming for ourselves and our peer networks a culturally aware and critical dialogue beyond traditional hierarchical behaviours. Influenced by situationist theory, fluxus, free and open source culture, and processes of self-education and peer learning, in an art, activist and community context.
Discussions (1712) Opportunities (15) Events (175) Jobs (2)
DISCUSSION

Re: cigarette break


Hi Mark,

Getting rid of the ego - is I believe a false action or idea. To acquaint
personal problems or certain ideologies/attitudes to be caused just by
having an ego; is a decoy. The so called unhealthy dominance of the ego and
what problems arise because of it; cannot be removed by emotional or
psychological surgery. In fact, the double bluff syndrome of extricating the
'devil ego', will also remove personal judgment on important issues that
could need answers from ones interior self or selves, depending on which
psychology is being purported or read at the time. Instead we need a gradual
disintegration of the idea of what the ego really is, to many ego is just a
word, an abstract thing that holds no image for imaginary definition.
Therefore it can be lost in the psychotic realms of other abstract words
such as depression. The image of depression is commonly recognised as a
cloud, this declares no clarity thus gets all caught up with other hazy
emotional traps. Also accepting the ego as a singular offers the illusion
that it is an object when really such a thing is more of a fluid and
grounded multiplicity of styles, rhetorics, and drives, part of thickening
texture of interior life. The externalization of the ego is more the issue,
how one deals with communicating with others via it, and how to be aware of
its usage at the time. We all slip up, denial and ignorance to cover up
vulnerabilities hides the ego even further, causing confusion for others and
ones self. If I was to be asked label what the ego was, I would (flippantly)
term it as a multifaceted layer of psychic clothing, a type of amour and
filter receiving and sending signals.

Much religion and state appropriated institutional groupings have
traditionally supported the insecurity of the ego unconsciously, mainly by
default; soothing the drift between ones severed link from the embryo/womb
right up to day to day existence. Freud had fixed categories (human nature,
society) and determinism which sat well next to the socialist theory of
Marx. Recent trends in the western world has emphasized the notion of
goal-seeking. And yes, I believe that there is a valid case of the
individual against societal dominance over the masses, whether it be
despotic, religious or corporate. Max Stirner wrote an interesting piece
about this a while back.

"Every State is a despotism, be the despot one or many," he declared.
Stirner's opponents dismissed his views as selfishness, but he observed
that individualism is hated because it makes individuals sovereign and
seeks strict limits on government power: "The own will of Me is the
State's destroyer; it is therefore branded by the State as 'self will.'"
Stirner displayed awesome insight when he attacked communism, then in its
infancy: "loudly as it always attacks the 'State', what it intends is
itself again a State ... a sovereign power over me."

THE EGO AND HIS OWN: The Case of the Individual Against Authority
by Max Stirner
http://flag.blackened.net/daver/anarchism/stirner/theego0.html

marc

> At 11:09 PM 9/24/2002 -0700, -IID42 Kandinskij @27+ wrote:
>
> >http://macdrew.physics.umd.edu/bruegel/triumph-of-death.jpg
>
> Now that is funny.
>
> Just when I was starting to feel depressed.
>
> > ... it's a function of the ego to be defended
> > at all costs, and its defense saps its carriers energies.
>
> Evidently true.
>
> If what I do is motivated by ego, then my decision to get rid of ego is
> also motivated by ego, as in "I would be a 'better' person if I got rid of
> this annoying ego", which brings me right back to ego (and then I can
> publish a self-help book). Seems that to end the energy drain requires
> letting go, while I am trained to hold on.
>
> Time for another cigarette.
>
> mark
>
>
>
> napier@potatoland.org
>
> + Barbarians at the XOR-gate
> -> post: list@rhizome.org
> -> questions: info@rhizome.org
> -> subscribe/unsubscribe: http://rhizome.org/preferences/subscribe.rhiz
> -> give: http://rhizome.org/support
> +
> Subscribers to Rhizome are subject to the terms set out in the
> Membership Agreement available online at http://rhizome.org/info/29.php
>
>

DISCUSSION

Re: The Hitler Project


Yep,

We are getting duped by established orders who have no interest in human
issues or human lives, they are mainly more interested in maintaining their
elitist heritage at whatever cost

marc

>
>
> No way! Talk about a mountain of evidence.
>
> >From: "furtherfield" <info@furtherfield.org>
> >Reply-To: "furtherfield" <info@furtherfield.org>
> >To: <list@rhizome.org>
> >Subject: RHIZOME_RAW: The Hitler Project
> >Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2002 23:39:35 +0100
> >
> >BlankThe Hitler Project
> >
> >For his part in the Hitler revolution, Prescott Bush was paid a fortune.
> >
> >This is the legacy he left to his son, President George Bush.
> >
> >http://www.tarpley.net/bush2.htm
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:
> http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx
>
> + Barbarians at the XOR-gate
> -> post: list@rhizome.org
> -> questions: info@rhizome.org
> -> subscribe/unsubscribe: http://rhizome.org/preferences/subscribe.rhiz
> -> give: http://rhizome.org/support
> +
> Subscribers to Rhizome are subject to the terms set out in the
> Membership Agreement available online at http://rhizome.org/info/29.php
>
>

DISCUSSION

Re:_[thingist]_RHIZOME_RAW:_[Windows-1252]_S adism_-_A_political_sport._(fwd)


Does that mean I can start smoking again, just as long as I have an equal
amount of tea...?

marc

> On Thu, 26 Sep 2002, Joseph Franklyn McElroy Cor[porat]e [Per]form[ance]
Art[ist] wrote:
>
> > I just read in the Times that a cup of tea is a good preventative
measure for
> > all types of ills, including cancer.
>
> Must be true, that.
>
> `, . ` `k a r e i' ? ' D42
>
> + Barbarians at the XOR-gate
> -> post: list@rhizome.org
> -> questions: info@rhizome.org
> -> subscribe/unsubscribe: http://rhizome.org/preferences/subscribe.rhiz
> -> give: http://rhizome.org/support
> +
> Subscribers to Rhizome are subject to the terms set out in the
> Membership Agreement available online at http://rhizome.org/info/29.php
>
>

DISCUSSION

Re: cigarette break


Reminds me of Afghanistan...

marc

> On Thu, 26 Sep 2002, napier wrote:
>
> > >http://macdrew.physics.umd.edu/bruegel/triumph-of-death.jpg
> >
> > Now that is funny.
> >
> > Just when I was starting to feel depressed.
>
> Isn't it though? Lovely.
>
> > > ... it's a function of the ego to be defended
> > > at all costs, and its defense saps its carriers energies.
> >
> > Evidently true.
> >
> > If what I do is motivated by ego,
>
> It's not 'motivated'--the ego has no motives.
>
> > then my decision to get rid of ego is also motivated by ego,
>
> If you make a 'decision'--yes. But there are ways to
> 'command' yourself outside of the ego, and also ways you
> can force your ego to trick itself--about as good as this
> 'tricking' mind-games go.
>
> > as in "I would be a 'better' person if I got rid of this annoying ego",
>
> Oh dear. I'm not sure how/if that impression came along?
> It's not about 'being a better person' at all.
> But you're correct in the statement that such a decision
> would lead nowhere, as being a 'better person' is a desire
> of the ego (and so is a better world, for that matter--
> hence my other comments to Eryk Salvaggio).
>
> Reminds me of nuns who seek Jesus for various silly
> purposes (being known as a famous nun, becoming a saint,
> getting a 'private audience' with Jesus, and a slew of others).
>
> And let's not start with the Zen monks and that famous Mount Koya.
>
> Always brightens my day to read such silliness.
>
> > which brings me right back to ego (and then I can publish a self-help
> > book).
>
> Or a Zen book :) You'll make more money that way :)
>
> > Seems that to end the energy drain requires
> > letting go, while I am trained to hold on.
>
> Certainly. I don't remember caring about being a better person
> when it happened, and I still don't care about it.
>
> Hence my repeated statements that value is not a 'comparative'
> exercise :)
>
>
> > Time for another cigarette.
>
> And thence the angels sing.
>
>
> `, . ` `k a r e i' ? ' D42
>
> + Barbarians at the XOR-gate
> -> post: list@rhizome.org
> -> questions: info@rhizome.org
> -> subscribe/unsubscribe: http://rhizome.org/preferences/subscribe.rhiz
> -> give: http://rhizome.org/support
> +
> Subscribers to Rhizome are subject to the terms set out in the
> Membership Agreement available online at http://rhizome.org/info/29.php
>
>

DISCUSSION

Re: Rhizome's Book Club


Hi Jess,

I remember once, when I was living in Brixton, London and frequenting with =
some well known and up and coming writers/critics/play writers and potentia=
l future big time lawyer friends, who had all come from Cambridge originall=
y, except for me that is. I was asked to read one of my stories to them, I =
thought ok, a personal audience. After reading the story out to them, Lucy =
(not her real name by the way), just in case she is reading this and does n=
ot want me to drag her down - began to cry. I was kind of surprised and eve=
n unnerved by this action, the rest of the gang gave her a gentle hug and s=
eemed to understand where her tears were coming from. I asked everyone what=
was going on? Wondering if my work had offended them or her in anyway; esp=
ecially the bit about a suicidal male masturbating in a seafront toilet whi=
lst trying to hang himself, and videoing it for his x boyfriend at the same=
time. Later on, when everyone else had left; she said the work was great b=
ut she had cried for me. I asked her why? She said it was because no one wi=
ll get to see the work because of my background and lack of relevant breedi=
ng. Sheesh I thought, as an existential angst like lump formed in my throat=
, after that I did not see them again, plus I pinched a few ace records fro=
m their collection from them before I left, breeding huh!

Although having said the above, I would not of met Ruth if I had not burst =
into the bedroom of a room mate in Bristol expounding a story about a grann=
y going through her last orgasm via the use of a drug that I had named as '=
Mirror'. The drug was so powerful she had a seizure. A drug that enhanced s=
exual feeling for all ages, mainly used by male prostitutes in the story f=
or when they got bored to the teeth with selling their bodies, to heighten =
the experience, making it a more positive venture, hence pleasing the custo=
mer.

I am also keen on a good laugh, but I'm terrible; I always want to know how=
they got to where they were and why they are doing what they are doing. Ch=
ecking up on famous dudes, researching their funding and organizational sup=
port for instance. Yep, I'll see if a friend is reading it presently, then =
borrow it once they have finished. I'm terrible these days, always reading =
non fiction it seems.

marc

> Hi Jess,
>
> About Zadie Smith - Is it coincidence that Cambridge & Oxford x-grads g=
et a
> lot media support?

of course!!!! hee!hee!
But it is a fantastic first book, even if she has had more opportunities =
that most new writers. I don't think many writers are brave enough to tackl=
e generational narratives in the way this does. I'm also a sucker for humo=
ur and I always read things through a great layer of self experience. There=
is a a chapter which starts with samad at a PTA meeting:
"By a strange process of symmetry, being a parent-governor perfectly mirr=
ors the process of becoming a parent. It starts innocently. Casually. You t=
urn up at the Spring Fair full of beans, help with the raffle tickets (beca=
use the pretty red-haired music teacher asks you to) and win a bottle of wh=
isky (all school raffles are fixed), and, before you know where you are, yo=
u're turning up at the weekly school council meetings, organizing concerts,=
discussing plans for the new music department, donating funds for the reju=
venation of the water-fountains - your implicated in the school, you're inv=
olved in it. Sooner or later you stop dropping your child off at the school=
gates. You start following them in..."

wonderful.
jess.

o
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