Nothing's for certain

After the post-modern discussion in the 80's, we thought that the claim of territories was secondary, because the fight for an advance in speed and information had replaced it (compare Virilio, Baudrillard). The fall of the communist regime and the Gulf War brought us back to earth and to today's realities. The speed has redoubled in nearly all spheres of everyday life since the 80's (compared to the working world), information is denser then ever before, due to new technologies such as handies and internet. At the same time we notice, that the hopes and fears - a question of perspective - in connection with speed weren't realised 1:1. The discourses of the French philosophers in the 80's have lost their actuality owing to the clashes in the Balkans or the continuing conflicts in the Middle East. Nowadays, it seams to involve intentions of naturalism with territorial claims. There is a lack of understanding, communication. Almost 'exterritorially' a train moves through Europe. Communication in the form of co-operation is in great demand.

A symbolic "monopolizing" of mobile small territories:

The carriages of this train are put at the artists disposal for current forms of communication. A liberated act, after the train has shed some 'art ballast', because this train has been used as a mobile exhibition premises until spring 98 in which"case" works in the range of 'De Valigia' were presented. Exactly this loss of works of art - of an easily accepting significance - made this project thrilling with its history. Exactly for these reasons artists have been invited, who are able, to realise in co-operation with others. When artists adapting to the empty carriages in a team, for a period of two weeks on the spot and therefore give the train a sense, that possibly opens up to initiate processes that are comprehensible for the observer.

Wolfgang Preisinger, Die Fabrikanten, Linz