GABRIEL MARTINEZ
A PERFORMANCE “THE BLESSING OF THE CITY OF HELSINKI”
8-8.30am on Sunday, 3nd of October, 2004
as a part of the group exhibition Parameters of Fear at MUU gallery

For further information please contact
the MUU gallery tel. +358-9-625 972
or Gabriel Martinez: GMartinez1@aol.com

Gabriel Martinez, a Cuban-American interdisciplinary artist from Philadelphia, USA is presenting a performance in Helsinki, in conjunction with the exhibition `Parameters of Fear´ at MUU gallery. Martinez' idea involves sprinkling custom-made biodegradable black bird confetti (modelled after the conceptual posters of skyscapes by the late visual artist, Felix Gonzalez-Torres) over Helsinki from a hot air balloon.

This project is partially inspired by French photographer, Gaspard Félix Tournachon's (Nadar) historical hot air balloon flight (Ascension du Géant) over Paris in 1868, where he captured the 1st successful aerial photograph. Nadar realized at the time the importance of aerial photography for military surveillance and geographical mapping.

Martinez would like this public performative action to invoke wonder and curiosity amongst potential witnesses. The delicate black bird confetti released and scattered over the streets and alleyways of Helsinki are in part celebratory remnants and part omens, that should be a curious discovery for the citizens of Helsinki. Ten kilograms of this confetti will be dispersed from the air at approximately 8-8.30 on Sunday, October 3nd.

The performance will be documented from land and from air as part of the group exhibition `Parameters of Fear`. The document will be shown in the exhibition at MUU gallery in October 1-17, 2004.