The inability to remember when, where and how previously learned information has been acquired is known as source amnesia. The phrase “I think I read it somewhere” and episodic memory is familiar to everybody living in the digital age.

Hannah Weiner, American avant-garde poet from the 1970’s, considered the side effects of memory loss liberating. “Without memory,” she wrote “surprises occur.” Her most known book “Clairvoyant Journal” (1974), includes transcriptions of words and sentences Weiner saw on people’s foreheads, on walls, or simply hovering in the air. “THE CAPITAL WORDS, WHICH GIVE INSTRUCTIONS, the italics, which make comments, and the ordinary type, which is me just trying to get through the day.“ For Weiner, clairvoyance was a synaesthetic ability, a way into the world.

From seeing words to hearing voices, the exhibition SOURCE AMNESIA displays text and sound works originating from subconscious processes and extrasensory perception.

“Occult Voices - Paranormal Music” compiled by Thomas Knoefel and Andreas Fischer, is a collection of audio documentation of so-called “unseen Intelligences” of the 20th century. Acting under the Phantom Airwaves Institution, Michael Esposito has participated in hundreds of paranormal investigations all over the world. Electronic Voice Phenomena has been the main focus in Esposito's extensive research and “Geist auf Kassette” his latest EVP recording. “Automatic Writing” (1979) by Robert Ashley is an audio piece based on involuntary speech resulting from Ashley’s mild form of Tourette's Syndrome. “The Confessor” is an 11- hour book of sleep talking recordings by Bryan Lewis Saunders. For the series of drawings “Dream Mapping” (1973) Susan Hiller invited 7 participants to sleep outdoors in an area of unusual occurrence of “fairy rings.” The field became a site of dream experiences which were discussed and mapped the following morning. “Anthology of Text Scores and Deep Listening” by pioneer composer Pauline Oliveros is a comprehensive collection of individual and group meditations/performances that embrace her ideas of sonic awareness in music, and life in general. Annette Wehrmann's texts typed on luftschlangen (paper streamers) are based on introspective thoughts and observations of daily life in 1990’s Germany, utopian literature, sci-fi and feminism. In Dora García’s ongoing project “23 million stories,” performers recite all the stories of the world in a loud voice. When completed, all the stories of all time and all places have passed through their lips.

Accompanying events:

May 24, 6 pm
Exhibition opening with Dora García’s performance “23 million stories”

June 4, 10 pm
Encounter: drinks and readings of “Clairvoyant Journal”

June 13, 8 pm
Lecture “Music and the Paranormal” by Dr. Melvyn Willin

June 19, 2 pm
Coffee and conversation with Dora García

June 19 – 21, 3 pm
"23 million stories" performances by Dora García will simultaneously take place at OSLO10 and at Ellen de Bruijne Projects at LISTE Art Fair Basel

June 27, 8pm
Anmari Mëtsa Yabi Wili will perform instructions and group meditations from “Anthology of Text Scores and Deep Listening" by Pauline Oliveros

Curated by Franziska Glozer, Margit Säde Lehni and Michael Zaugg
Graphic design by Elke Kornà-Coleridge
Installation by Aaron Meier

With special thanks to Charles Bernstein, Ellen de Bruijne, Verein des Gegen, Mimi Johnson, Zoe McCloskey, Aaron Meier, Anmari Metsa Yabi Wili, Phill Niblock, Michelle Witen, Urs Lehni.

Opening times:
During events and by appointment (+41 76 686 53 35)
June 19 – 21, Thu 13.30 - 16.30, Fri – Sat 14.30 -16.30