YAM SPECIAL EDITION 1996/97
EDITION YAM - ARTISTSBOOK 1998
YAM VIDEO-BOOK 1997

HIRTL Claudia / Vienna - Christine LJUBANOVIC / Paris

A multimedia work developed and carried out by Claudia HIRTL and Christine LJUBANOVIC. The application, use, and ever-changing reinterpretation of the idea characterises the original concept itself..

YAM (in its abridged form: Jerusalem) became, by virtue of translations into other languages, signs, and alphabets, as well as through Hebrew, Arabic, Armenian or Latin associations, a pictorial and textual medium. The pochoir - painting was performed live during the "Phenomena Festival."

The performance was shown live in the exhibition hall by video. The audience could watch on the screen how the painting evolved.

Simultaneously, another monitor played L's video 'impressit W' on an endless tape-loop. It showed another work process (signs / development) that makes use of punches, engraving, lead casting, and book printing at the Imprimerie Nationale, Paris. On the floor of the room were two containers. In one of them were the pigments used on a particular day, in the other, the bound work: 'impressit ALPHABETS & SIGNS LETTERS/LANDS', by Ljubanovic.

Post-production of the artists' books EDITION YAM and video YAM VIDEO BOOK were further steps in the ongoing shared work, which functions, above all else, as a "medium of mediation." It consists of connections with other languages, signs, topographies, countries, highly diverse materials.

Photo: Ch. Ljubanovic, Paris