S - E - L - B - S - T (prinzenstempel)
S-E-L-F (prinzenstamp)

www.DerPrinz.li, 2000, ca. 20 minutes, 9 performances at the Liechtenstein Pavillon, World EXPO 2000 in Hannover (Ge), Hall 15.

A Techno-like musical cocoon accompanies the whole performance and creates an own "space" in which the action takes place. The Prinz appears dressed in a white suit and carrying a grey briefcase at the infodesk of the Liechtenstein Pavillion. He sits down on the desk in front of the audience and starts to cut a potato stamp with the tools he brought in his briefcase. The word EXPO derives from the word EXPOSITION, it means to expose, to show, but also to explain something. Bringing the inside to the outside. The World EXPO 2000 is an official Exhibition of oneself as a country in front of the entire world. Of course to show positive qualities is preferred over exposing the negative ones. This official outing of positive aspects is opposed by a personal self-reflection provoked through the performance S-E-L-F. A process aimed towards the inward, the true and essential things. This self-reflection may take place regarding the own nation as such, as well as the very individual personality. The question after the Self asks for honesty. There must be no outing as a consequence, but self-communion is an unavoidable part of the process.
The Prinz serves as a metaphor for the proper official pavillions. Being himself an artificial person he fits perfectly to the very artificial global village of the EXPO.
The potato stands for the basics, the essentials. By distributing a stamp a sign of serving-ones-next is performed. The stamp shows a crown together with the word SELF. By experience EXPO visitors are very fond of all the country stamps, and this one will be the most exclusive of all.

www.DerPrinz.li

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