WESTERN FRONT – Identity Utopic

Description:

Over the course of two-hours, Hervé Fischer invited audience members into his “utopic identity office,” a desk at the centre of the Grand Luxe Hall where he conducted a survey that interrogated who participants were and wanted to be. Following their conversation, each participant was issued a card that was stamped and signed by Fischer.

Video documentation is available upon request.

Hervé Fischer and an audience participant sit across from each other at a wooden table positioned at the centre of the Grand Luxe Hall. The surface of the desk is cluttered with numerous rubber stamps, ink pads, papers, and pens. A jacket is strewn on the floor at the foot of Fischer’s chair. Other audience members, including Michael Morris, can be seen seated along the periphery of the Grand Luxe Hall.

Hervé Fischer and an audience participant sit across from each other at a wooden table positioned at the centre of the Grand Luxe Hall. Fischer writes in a notebook while the participant smiles into a microphone that is positioned on a stand next to the table. The surface of the desk is cluttered with numerous rubber stamps, ink pads, papers, and pens. A jacket is strewn on the floor at the foot of Fischer’s chair. Other audience members, including Michael Morris, can be seen seated along the periphery of the Grand Luxe Hall.

Hervé Fischer and Michael Morris sit across from each other at a wooden table positioned at the centre of the Grand Luxe Hall. Fischer is seen writing in a notebook while Morris speaks. A jacket is strewn on the floor at the foot of Fischer’s chair. The surface of the desk is cluttered with numerous rubber stamps, ink pads, papers, and pens. Other audience members can be seen seated along the periphery of the Grand Luxe Hall.

Hervé Fischer and Kate Craig sit across from each other at a wooden table positioned at the centre of the Grand Luxe Hall. Their hands touch as Fischer passes Craig a small object. The surface of the desk is cluttered with numerous rubber stamps, ink pads, papers, and pens. Two microphones on stands are angled towards their faces. Other audience members can be seen seated along the periphery of the Grand Luxe Hall.

Hervé Fischer and Kate Craig sit across from each other at a wooden table positioned at the centre of the Grand Luxe Hall. Craig watches as Fischer stamps a piece of paper. The surface of the desk is cluttered with numerous rubber stamps, ink pads, papers, and pens. Two microphones on stands are angled towards their faces.

Hervé Fischer and Hank Bull sit across from each other at a wooden table positioned at the centre of the Grand Luxe Hall. Fischer stamps a piece of paper while Bull is writing on a separate piece of paper. The surface of the desk is cluttered with numerous rubber stamps, ink pads, pieces of paper , and pens. A jacket is strewn on the floor at the foot of Fischer’s chair, while Bull’s coat hangs on the back of his. Other audience members can be seen sitting along the periphery of the room.

Captions:

Hervé Fischer, Identity Utopic (1976), photo documentation, Oct 22, 1976.
Hervé Fischer, Identity Utopic (1976), photo documentation, Oct 22, 1976.
Hervé Fischer, Identity Utopic (1976), photo documentation, Oct 22, 1976.
Hervé Fischer, Identity Utopic (1976), photo documentation, Oct 22, 1976.
Hervé Fischer, Identity Utopic (1976), photo documentation, Oct 22, 1976.
Hervé Fischer, Identity Utopic (1976), photo documentation, Oct 22, 1976.

Western Front is a non-profit artist-run centre in Vancouver.

We acknowledge the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations as traditional owners of the land upon which Western Front stands.