Eric Beckett Weaver reading “The Atomic Declaration of Dependence” at the closing ceremony of the First NSK Citizens’ Congress.

The Atomic Declaration of Dependence was an expected surprise for all of us. This pirate manifesto is the manifestation, the focus, the epicentre and the crystallization of the despair of each delegate. A despair that each delegate was unable or unwilling to verbalise. Moreover, it is the statement of the “self-detestation/self-de-state-tation” that we were all carrying within our minds. The signatories are simultaneously accusing the representatives of NSK, the body of the delegates, the congress… and themselves. During the demonstration of self-inflicted diplomacy and courtesy known as the congress, a huge beast was growing behind our faces, inside our minds. We didn’t need to sign the Atomic Declaration of Dependence. We had already mentally signed it exactly at the moment we entered the site of the congress, the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. (continue reading…)

First of all, I would like to thank everyone involved in the congress for their good humor and very, very hard work, especially Alexei Monroe (who was a very good master of ceremonies) and the other folks put on the Congress. It was a high point of my year so far. Also, thanks to the Founding Members of Neue Slowenische Kunst for all their work and same goes for Haris and Jernej for all the website, a very impressive bit of hard work.

I thought the caliber of the delegates was excellent, and the range of opinions was quite broad, yet we did agree on many important issues. For example, what we (as NSK) should do around micro-nations? This issue was resolved almost unanimously and very quickly, which surprised me. So thanks to the “Hidden Secret NSK Cabal” that choose us so well. Equally, many of speakers were excellent, even though my own views on Neue Slowenische Kunst and NSK might have been very different than their own. Again, I found the diverging opinions stimulating.

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Everything is ready for the event! Looking forward to see you all at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt.

This congress assembles selected citizens of our State for the first time, in order to discuss the state and its future. This project represents a materialisation of the previously virtual “NSK State in Time” which until now has primarily been understood as an art project. Over three days, some 30 “delegates”, commentators and observers will meet at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt to discuss the possible further development of the NSK State in Time. Accompanying these internal daytime debates there will be an evening programme open to the public including a seminar addressing the questions raised during the Congress. The first evening of the Congress will see the opening of the exhibition “NSK Folk Art“. This is art produced in the style of or referring to NSK by individuals and groups from around the world. A first selection of NSK Folk Art was recently presented by IRWIN and NSKSTATE.COM at the Taipei Biennale. The Berlin exhibition will show for the first time over 60 artworks from the NSK State in Time collection. In addition, film screenings over two evenings will present an interesting selection of extracts from the work of NSK plus related subjects. The event will close with a public party with DJs and live performers including NSK citizens.

The dates and venue for the Berlin congress have now been finalised. The congress will run from 21st to 23rd October.  We are pleased to announce that the venue for the Congress will be Haus Der Kulturen Der Welt, Berlin’s House of World Cultures. More details of the programme will follow shortly.

Delegates will be contacted shortly to confirm the new dates and arrangements. The congress is being organised in cooperation with the Berlin cultural agency “Βüro für Κulturelle Αngelegenheiten” and they will deal with practical arrangements for the delegates. Please remember that all delegates have now been selected. Non-delegates are welcome to attend the public events but must make their own travel and visa arrangements.

The Organising Committee of the First NSK Citizens’ Congress has announced that the core event will run between Thursday November 4th – Saturday November 6th 2010. UPDATE: The congress will run from 21st to 23rd October.

Alongside the Congress itself there will be a public programme of events including an exhibition, screenings and talks. More details will follow soon.