This presentation examines artistic intervention as a research method for executing reflection and critique with and through matter. The point of departure is an analysis of language as a “public domain”, which are deteriorating as words and phrases are reserved as trademarks. Such processes are often difficult to grasp as it takes the form of licenses registered in the archives of Intellectual Property Offices and mainly gets attention from the public when specific cases are brought up by the media. However, the presentation gives examples of how artistic interventions can be used to materialize such processes and instead of “just” representing the critique, they literally end up executing it.

BIONOTE:
Danish artist and critical designer Linda Hilfling works with the premises of participation and public space within media structures, with a focus on means of control (codes, organisation and law) and their cultural impact. Her artistic practice takes the form of humorous interventions reflecting upon or revealing hidden gaps in such structures. Linda was also co-director and initiator of the media archaeological festival, the Art of the Overhead. Currently she is a doctoral candidate in Interaction Design at Malmö University, Sweden.