UND WIR MITTENDRIN
billboard in public space, 230 x 504 cm, 2020

Graphical support: Maria Kanzler

When uttered, We draws semantic lines but also concrete borders where some are inside and others stand outside. Even more than the pronoun itself, it is the words surrounding it that describe the grammatical and political distinction between inclusion or exclusion. These other words encompassing the We, fill it with meaning that is constantly being fought over - in political speeches, advertising campaigns and identity politics. In this vicarious battle of words, the collective spheres of identity and belonging, are constantly being constructed anew.

With regard to political and historical construction processes of social fabrics and identity, Und wir Mittendrin. Wir sind Hier. Wir sind bei Uns. refers to the history of „Gastarbeiter“ („guest worker“), who in the 1950s until the 1970s were granted temporary residence in Austria to take up employment on the basis of recruitment agreements. Most of them worked on the many construction sites that have emerged after the II WW.
The text was created out of slogans, which were found on advertising surfaces, posters and banners in the public space and at construction sites.

We Create Space. We Provide Space. We Deplete. Together With The Plumber We Are Building The World Of Tomorrow. We Build The Future. We Build Values. We Build Trust. We Build For You To Work Here. We Work At High Pressure. We Create Values. We Protect Values. We Are Doing That. We Do Not Build Eternally But For Eternity. We Know Our Business. We Are The Best Solution. We Build On Solid Values. We Build On Sympathy. We Are Building For You. We Are Doing This. We Reconstruct For You. We Work at High Pressure. We Provide Space. We Build the Future. We Build Trust. We Build Values. We Do Not Build Eternally But For Eternity. We Do That. We Renovate. We Reconstruct. We Deplete. We Are Building For You. We Build On Your Sympathy. We Build Trust. We Leave No Questions Unanswered. We Are Opening. We Are Closing. We Are Building That We