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For fifty-six consecutive days last year, September through November, rain or shine, Swiss-born photographer and media artist Markuz Wernli Saito carried out one-hour services for, and with, the people of Kyoto. Markuz encouraged friends and passers-by to witness and participate to act, react and interact.

But why be an artist-in-service? Why set up mobile tea parties, guard trees and share stories by the light of a vending machine? Simple curiosity is one reason. Having fun is another. Placing one-yen coins on the raised yellow surface outside subway exits, for example, is also a way of using everyday objects differently, a mild disruption that could help people to see things differently. Urban life can seem like a never-ending, never-changing grind but Markuz believes that there are many possibilities in public life and places that remain untried. To be in service beyond art practice means, to work within everyday context and participate in acts of civility.

For the most part, the services have been received with friendly curiosity or empathy. Informal and formal objections to his (re)use of public space have been few and, along with a pigeon harbouring artistic aspirations, were all part of a learning experience. This included the exchange the artist had with police and train station managers. The artist learnt that asking for permission is usually the end of harmless creative interventions because authorities are not used to deal with the surprise and rather hold on to control which is always incomplete of course. Much more important that to worry about permissions was to conspire with other service staff like janitors who helped ensure that the management wouldnt know in the first place.

As well as sparking immediate responses, there has been worldwide interest in the project. Markuz filmed all the services and they appear as silent video clips on his website momentarium.org. Some interpret Markuzs work as a way of slowing down, of connecting with people in refreshing and unique ways. For others, the videos bring out the beauty that is already in the mundane of present life. One viewer gained hope from the project as it shows one person changing the world today, tomorrow and the next day.

With the services completed, Markuz has been making a series of presentations about the conscious experiment. Through the interactive talks he hopes to contribute to a bigger discussion on what confines the frame and rules of our public lives.

To view the online video diary and get more information, visit:
http://momentarium.org/