Nelly Ben Hayoun

“I’m hard put to describe what is going on here, but it sounds rather like ‘experiential futurism’.”

Science Fiction Writer Bruce Sterling on Micronations revolution as part of his ‘Design Fiction’ review.

www.micronationsrevolution.com

Micronations Revolution is a pop-up show at the edge of science fiction. For 2 nights only (11th & 12th March 2011), it warmed up more than 1000 participants’ imagination as well as haunting them with images of yetis, giant submarines, wild octopus and much more!

Directed & curated by Nelly Ben Hayoun for Shunt-London, Micronations Revolution is two nights of music, performances, workshops & animations developed around four fictional micro-nations.

Set in the post industrial landscape of Shunt’s yard and machine filled interior, you enter the threshold and are able to push your physical limits in Sea-salt park; learning to scuba dive with Aqualon Scuba Diving Tutors. Enjoy the world of play in the Marble Kingdom and bid your love away. Why not apply your economic and creative talents to the realm of work, crafting mini models to be sold in auction, or dare to be bold in Ice Break mountain; just beware of the Yeti!

If that’s not enough to satiate one’s appetite for experience, then can-can the night away or jump on a wooden horse in Iron Scape, armed with a flag and your micro nations rallying cry, and battle it out against your recently wed ‘BINGO’ spouse!
In among the crowds is the ominous Agent A, working for the Micro-nations evil Puppet Master she is awarding medals but also confiscating people’s nationality.
Citizens of the micro-nations wear capes in the style of 70s tv show The Prisoner, wave flags as they hear The Dictator give his speech!

Micronations Revolution’s programme was built as a series of interactive and participative experiences & experiments questioning the use of Design with imaginary politics.
Inspired by ‘pataphysicist’ Alfred Jarry, Participants experienced imaginary societies while communicating with a yeti on the top of an ice cube.

You can see details of the programme & the concept of the nights and all the artists and designers involved in the show, as well as more pictures, on the website www.micronationsrevolution.com