When I was in America last year I bought a hat. The hat had a label that read: “Genuine Government Issue, 100% wool watch cap.” Beneath the text the “Official Seal of the Department of Defense” was printed. Because I am not a US citizen, I often feel that the government is involved in my life. I have to report my profession and my reason for entering the country every time at customs, I have to be very careful what I say and don’t say, what I do and more specifically don’t do. With that label in the hat, I felt that everything I do, all the decisions that I made were “Genuinely Government Issued”. This kind of bureaucracy is of course common for all immigrants, all travelers but also within our own nation we need to take part in it. Both the reality of it and the absurdity of it is what I became interested in.

In the watercolor series “Genuine Government Issue” I created new Departments of my concern. If the Government is going to be invested in my life I reason that some new departments would need to be constituted.

‘Your Application is Pending’ is a performance based on the piece ‘Genuine Government Issue’. With my new Departments I also had the freedom to make myself the head of all of them. During the performance, you can come and meet me in my temporary office at Cigarrvägen 13 in Hökarängen. The performance will take place only once, on March 7th between 5-9 pm. You can apply to any of the Departments; I will schedule an interview for you and if you qualify you may be approved. Application forms will be found on location. Welcome!

Departments to apply to:

1.     Department of Defense no.1

2.     Department of Defense no.2

3.     Department of Defense no.3

4.     Department of Wool

5.     Department of Love

6.     Department of Despair

7.     Department of Horror

8.     Department of Romantic Fools

9.     Department of Desire

10.  Department of Good Old Friends

11.  Department of Poets

12.  Department of Candy and Clowns

13.  Department of Ambiguity

14.  Department of Porridge

15.  Department of Deadlines

16.  Department of Disappointments

17.  Department of Naps

18.  Department of Cigarettes and Beer

19.  Department of Loneliness

20.  Department of Bad TV

Cigarrvägen 13 is a 30 sqm artist run space set up by Ami, Frida, Sebastian, Ylva and Johan. From the opening February 22, 2013 the group would like to hand over the use of the space to other artists. Their aim is to offer the possibility to realize projects or exhibitions, to arrange meetings, screenings, conversations and other public events.