This project was an attempt at creating a physical public space using a conventional vending machine that allowed people to exchange views on some local as wells as global issues. As a public experiment the project attempted to redefine the social and economic value of products by turning them into spaces for personal reflection and exchange.
In essence you could buy yourself an open message in order to append your message to it and return it back to the machine for others to pick up and continue the discussion. These open messages were in format of postcards, so they could also be used conventionally via snail mail. You paid 20 cents for it!
In October 2003, we as artists in residence at Cittadellarte were invited to present our work done during the residency at an exhibition on Cittadellarte held at the Muhka Museum of Contemporary Art in Antwerp, Belgium. The exhibition was titled “Michelangelo pistoletto & cittadellarte &”. The “Buy Less, Say More” project was installed in the cafeteria of the museum as part of the exhibition.
To further extend the project an online document was also made available and the URL was indicated on the postcards. On this website one could find details regarding the process and examples of filled in post cards. PROJECT WEBSITE
