Geneva Unplugged
The Swedish artist Elin Wikström and Drabble + Sachs aimed to black- out the city of Geneva during the UN World Summit on the information Society.
In early 2002 Drabble+Sachs were requested by the coordinators of the UN's World Summit on the Information Society, to propose an artistic project to mark this international gathering in the city of Geneva.
Drabble+Sachs joined forces with the Swedish artist Elin Wikström, agreeing to reactivate an original idea of hers, which seemed ideally suited to a summit dealing with the 'digital divide' between those who have infrastructure and technology on this planet and those who don't.
The resultant project 'Geneva Unplugged' involved the city and canton of Geneva undergoing an organised and announced power-cut for the duration of 45 minutes on the second evening of the Summit,Thursday the 11th of December 2003. Although Elin Wikström and Drabble+Sachs had nothing to do with the years spectacular power-cuts in New York, Canada and London, depending on which paper you read it seems as if not everyone had such a bad time! The question of whether Geneva would react to a total blackout with the same spontaneous party spirit shown by the New Yorkers, became a question at the heart of the project Geneva Unplugged. A question that was sadly never to be answered. After lengthy delays and considerable ‘behind the scenes’ goings-on, at the end of July 2003 the artistic team received notice from the city’s ambassador to the UN Summit on information society, Guy Olivier Segond, that the project would not be given permission:
“(...) Today, on the grounds of an analysis of feasibility by the responsible public services, it is clear that realisation of the project proposes…technical difficulties… public order problems… and questions relative to the security of property and individuals. As a result of these it is clear that the project is not realisable”
It would be fair to say that such a response was awaited since Drabble+Sachs first hand experience of the demonstrations and ensuing events in Geneva during the G8 summit in June/July 2003. Although even today the commissioned feasibility study which might show to what extent the questions of public disorder played a role, has not been published.
Drabble+Sachs maintain:
"Naturally we feel the decision not to go ahead with the project is a great shame, not least because at a time when the questions of power, security and public discussion are at a height, the proposal seems stronger than ever."
Download the Geneva Tribune’s report of the event (in French):
or translated into English
with Elin Wikström
