Exhibition opening incl. introducing words on the subject “On the formation of associations and the restraints of red-tape, along with some considerations on the problem of off-shore financial centers and the senselessness of auctions via internet platforms within this context” by Julius Stieber (Cultural Director of the City of Linz), imperial accompaniment and shredder performance

https://www.facebook.com/events/143827500305484

Like it is with empires: After a long, long raise it has to come to an end. In December 2013 all the previous actions of the Imperium qujOchÖum were presented in an exhibition and also the last action #9 happened: “The Empire destroys itself”, including words of introduction about “Founding associations and the constraints of bureaucracy and some considerations about the problems with off-shore financial centers and the senselessness of auctions via internet platforms in this context”, imperial musical accompaniment and a paper shredder performance.

“The great man down, you mark his favourite flies; The poor advanc‘d make friends of enemies.” (William Shakespeare)

“No club – poor pig!” is an old saying. Founding associations in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland is booming. 580.000 associations are registered just in Germany, seven times more than 50 years ago, in Austria there are 120.000 associations existing, also this number has tripled in the last 50 years. So it’s kind of true that the FAZ means: “In his heart the German is and stays a clubman through and through.” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 19th of July 2013)

The Imperium qujOchÖum now offered the ultimate opportunity to easily and simply get part of this association system. In an unique auction on various auction and sale platforms it was possible to become owner of an own association, because: “What is not possible for one single person, can make possibly a lot of persons!” (Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen (1818–1888), founder of the Raiffeisen cooperatives, German agrarian politician)

www.ebay.at/sch/qujochoe/m.html?item=161149108636&pt=Gesch%C3%A4ftsverk%C3%A4ufe&hash=item25853c419c&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

www.unternehmen-sucht-unternehmer.de/56–0‑18162-Verkaufsangebot-Vereine-VEREIN-ZU-VERKAUFEN-Sportverein-Querfeldein-Anzeige-lesen.html

oesterreich.kijiji.at/c‑ViewAd?AdId=542881464&Guid=1424eabb-9120-a20b-26c0-5203fffff407

www.flohmarkt.at/php/detail/3135607

http://linz.locanto.at/ID_201413966/VEREIN-ZU-VERKAUFEN-vereinigung-Holy‑Q.html

With 115 associations in five different countries and a circular letter function it goes the easy way to do subsidy grapping and sponsor gouging. To try this out the Empire sent 20 requests for supporting an international, intercultural and intergenerational festival to different funding agencies in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

At the same time 22 requests for sponsoring different kind of things to make this festival happen were sent to companies in the German-speaking area (e.g. mineralwater-fastfood-vouchers, products out of quinces, thrown-out soccer-shoes from Marco Quotschalla, …)

The list in Austria, Germany and Switzerland reads like the Who is Who of fraud: Alfons Mensdorff-Pouilly, Karl-Heinz Grasser, Uwe Scheuch und Harald Dobernig, Ernst Strasser, Peter Hochegger, Walter Meischberger, Ernst Karl Plech, Carsten Maschmeyer, Klaus Zumwinkel, Madeleine Schickedanz, Michael Perler und Christian Baumann (the majority of them are politicians and/or entrepeneurs).

These natural partners received 9,90 Euro on their bank accounts and a letter, which referred back to a long-time ago conversation about a senseless idea of investment. You won’t believe the reactions.

For each of the 115 associations from the Imperium qujOchÖum its own Facebook Page was created. To provide an own friendship network, the three founding members of the Empire invited all their own friends on Facebook within a few minutes to share, like and to make friends with all the 115 associations. Some liked it, some not: that some friends broke up the Facebook-friendship was one of the results.

In 99 committee meetings it came to positive decisions for these memberships, 16 clubs didn‘t apply for a membership.
[See image gallery at archive.qujochoe.org]

In Austria just two, “Neigungsgruppe oink und Quiek” in Bludenz and “verband des Österreichischen Quokka” in Eferding, of the altogether 24 associations had troubles with the responsible district authorities.

Via personalized circular letters contact was made to the authorities for the rest of the associations in other countries. There was a response from 34 of them. Next to informative material, the Empire also received almost effusive joy statements. Fairly and squarely the authorities of Liechtenstein reacted harshly which might be owed to the easy contact between the different departments of Liechtenstein.

In a more than three hour tour de force 115 associations were founded in 78 towns in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Spain – from Aachen via Castrop-Rauxel, Itzehoe, Linz and Lucerne to Vaduz and Zurich.

Each association got a special name and a particular purpose and for each club its own statutes and founding protocols were made. The founding of each single association (with the same three main members) was documented by photographs.

(Video/Editing: qujOchÖ)

These constructs are primarily popular to carry out illegal transactions discretely, to cheat the taxman and to launder money. Criminals often use the whole network of such companies based abroad, because a criminal prosecution is nearly impossible.

qujOchÖ makes use of this absurd economy and transforms its mechanisms into the artistic field. For this, more than 100 associations and incorporated clubs will be founded in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Spain. This Empire formed out of dummy associations will be linked and nested in manifold ways to simulate the rise and fall of an imperium in numerous steps.

“The great man down, you mark his favourite flies; The poor advanc‘d make friends of enemies.” (William Shakespeare)