mind-the-gap is a platform, open to handicapped as well as non-handicapped people. Starting in march 2005 the artistic web-project intends to make the artists work public, to encourage networking between artists and users as well as discussions between handicapped and non-handicapped people in the course of one year and hopefully beyond. In that respect, it promotes an offensive approach. mind-the-gap is the third project realized by the handicapped artist Werner Schmeiser(gold- and silversmith) and the media-artist Florian Schmeiser:

"project(ion) handicap" was part of the styrian county-exhibition in 2000. The contributions of eight handicapped artists to various topics were exchanged, collected and presented on a server. This communication generated a virtual sculpture - a dancing human. The project is documented on CD-ROM and has won the "Price for cultural projects on the integration of handicapped people".

www.differenzgewinn.at was developed in the context of quot;sinnlos", Graz 2003. The project documents the communicative exchange between Werner Schmeiser and Hans Krameritsch, whose one´s left and the other´s right side of their bodies became "senseless" by the consequences of a stroke. The users are welcomed by the slogan "you are entering an unsafe area. if there are any distortions you have to live with them.". The project is also the first draft of a "handicapped interface".

http://mind-the-gap.at aims to further develop the ideas of the "handicapped interface" and of connecting handicapped and non-handicapped people. The website offers artists the possibility to present their works - audio, video, pictures and text - online. Furthermore, it wants to acknowledge the potential of so-called disadvantages: mediadata can be produced by both handicapped and non-handicapped people, the digital communication doesn´t show the handicaps of the producer. The internet offers the possibility to be creative beyond the borders of physical abilities, everybody can produce and communicate. Within (digital) networks, the borders between handicap and talent are fluctuating.

mind-the-gap is not just a virtual gallery. It also offers a space for active reception. The users are invited to give feedback to a work or to use the forum in order to discuss the topic in general. While navigating the "handicapped interface", the users experience the situation of being handicapped, which means a loss of control: reduction of senses, of mobility, of communication. Writing, navigating, the perceptibility of picture and text - the usability of the whole interface, which we take for granted, is irritated, sabotaged, deconstructed. Using the "handicapped interface" provokes - on an online-level - experiences that are daily life to handicapped people. This means also expiriencing the theme handicap on a non-intellectual, more experimental level. At the moment of distortion the medium becomes visible. Well trained cultural techniques, like navigating an interface, are common in daily life. The sabotage of these actions questions them and encourages to reflect them.

Taking part in the project affords the will to act on one´s own initiative, regarding the usage of the interface as well as the exposition of the topic. Artists and users decide individually about their level of involvement. The aim is the development of a communicative process, which allows users and artists to exchange their positions and differences. Discussing differences doesn´t mean to eliminate them, but rather to understand them as a benefit of differentiation.

All works and texts are finally documented in a catalog and on CD-ROM.

The following artists have announced their participation: Otto Anlanger, Veronika Dreier, Stefanie Guessl, Dieter Halden, Rodolfo Hirzberger, Oskar Kalamidas, Richard Kriesche, kunst.wirt.schaft, Otto Lechner, Elisabeth Loeffler, Paul Musyl, Norbert Pauser, Erwin Posarnig, Erwin Riess, Cornelia Scheuer, Werner Schmeiser, Oliver Sieber, Marinela Vecerik.

Participation:
Artists who are interested in participating are asked to send an e-mail including a short (artistic) cv to info@mind-the-gap.at. You will receive your login-information afterwards, which allows you to enter the data-base, where you can save and edit text, pictures (jpeg), sound (mp3), animations (Shockwave Flash) and video (Flash Video, converting can be done by us). The whole process is explained. If you have any questions or problems don´t hesitate to contact us:

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contact: info@mind-the-gap.at
public relations: tamara.schwarzmayr@mind-the-gap.at