19th May, 2009, Prague experienced a daylong street performance called UFF.
We were monitoring signal of one of our mobile phones just as it is perpetually monitored by the Czech Police. Through use of the location data we left a trace in the streets of Prague which could be watched real time on the web or followed via maps shown on street posters and thus taking part in the happening during which 18 interventions to the city landscape were created.
Through re-contextualization of objects and places we aimed to interact with our surrounding.
Instructions to the UFF street game
On 19.05.2009, a day-long street action will take place in Prague during which new rules of the city will be set. 18 places will be transformed to offer passers-by a different view of the space which they daily encounter.
Come to play golf, scare someone, care for plants, shoot, take a boat-trip, fly, exhibit, sing, take some photos or have a picnic where it haven’t occurred to you before.
In the streets of Prague you will find posters with a map, where are the individual spots highlighted, defined by a simple caption and marked with their GPS coordinates. You can find these spots on a map, right in the street or via GPS receiver or a mobile phone with GPS support. The coordinates are available also on this website; you can easily paste them into a search engine, www.mapy.cz, and easily plan your way to the exact location.
On each spot, you will find a playing tool or a brought object which primarily does not belong there. Sometimes the place is taken out of the regular, stereotypical, city context and is given a new function. All that matters is players’ creativity and their effort to be an active player and not just an apathetic city user!
You can find the spots already on the map, however, they will gain their game function on Tuesday, 19.05. On this day there will be a live broadcast of the first team making its way across the game board. This will be possible thanks to the signal of a mobile phone. Just like we are watched by surveillance cameras and localized by BTS stations every day, you will be able to follow the first players yourself!
Everyone can join the game, there’s no need to sign up, there is no set of rules and it never ends.
A player is everyone who reads this text, everyone who found the map with the walkthrough in the street. It’s about being creative, keeping your eyes open and playing with the city.
Every spot welcomes you to interact with it and it can change very fast. On every spot there is an artifact which enables you to create something, have fun with it or just enjoy it. Don’t be shy to change these spots or add other ones.
Some spots will last longer, others only couple of days or even hours. That’s why, it is best to take part on the first day of the game already. The reason for monitoring the movement of the first team is for you to know which spots they already set up and which spots they are up to.
Of course we invite to the game our main (counter) players who are accustomed to setting rules all too well.
The aim of game is to become aware of one’s commotion around the city and not to be afraid to interact with it and offer your own point of view about the life in the city!