SAM(AUTOMATOR)
[ @TKk-MAXX, groningen ]
Performance
Duration: 17-10-2016 ---- Present

Sam(automator) is an ongoing performance that happens for a minimum of 12h every week at a winkel in the Guldenstraat 20. This 4 year long performance conforms to a wide research based on a “high end products” shopping environment. These observations seek for an understanding of productivity in relation to (Heidegger’s idea of “Well-being”) human capacities and the output towards automated tasks (repetitive jobs) which happen in presence of a public. The public behaviour forms part of the main focus of the observation. The tasks performed get instructed by “higher rank” employees, who reinforce and supervise the performed tasks. All these observations are made from an artist point of view from the working class perspective.


Productive usage of UNPRODUCTIVE “paid” time, for the undercover making of art.

Starting times (NO flexibility)


And now, a poem.


9 MINUTES TO FLOW RAIL
7 MINUTES TO FLOW TOTE
5 MINUTES TO ORGANIZE KIDS SHOES

WEAR HEADSET TO COMMUNICATE
WEAR BLACK CLOTHING
WORK FASTER
WALK TO TILLS

EMPTY CABINET
SERVE CUSTOMER
GREET CUSTOMER
COMPLIMENT CUSTOMER CHOICE
BE ON TIME

GO ON BREAK
COME BACK FROM BREAK
NOTIFY YOUR WHEREABOUTS
BE ON TIME


GO TO FITTING ROOM
SERVE CUSTOMER
GIVE CARD ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF ITEMS
GIVE CARD ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF ITEMS
GIVE CARD ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF ITEMS
GIVE CARD ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF ITEMS
TAKE ITEMS BACK
HANG ITEMS
SORT OUT INTO SYSTEM DIVISION
ADJUST SIZE CUBE ON ITEM HANGER
DELIVER RAIL OF ITEMS

PICK TROUSERS FROM THE FLOOR
CLEAN OUT BROKEN GLASS
FOLD DUSTY TOWELS
BRING A KID TO THE TOILET
CLEAN OUT SPILL ON 1ST FLOOR
FOLD BLANKETS
MATCH LOST SOCK
MATCH LOST GLOVE
MATCH LOST SHOE
FIND A PEN
WRITE A REPORT
TELL CUSTOMER NOT TO OPEN PACKAGING