Ars Electronica snapshot of the day

wmmna1.jpgJohannes Gees action Salat won a Honorary Mention in the Hybrid Art category of the Prix Ars Electonica 2008.

In the summer of 2007, Gees sneaked automated speakers into famous church towers in various Swiss cities and in one mountain village. At the times of Islamic prayer the call of the muezzin could be heard. The context for this action is the heated debate in Switzerland that ensued after right-wing conservative politicians demanded the ban of minarets.

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On show at the OK Center are photos, a video showing the reactions of passer-bys, legal letters from city administrations, that followed the action, and one of the speakers, shown in the snapshot, that always on the full hour plays the sound that was used in the action.