Document:Q11778

From Rhizome Artbase

NEW YORK CITY, New York
January 1, 2001
Michael Mandiberg, Inc. announced today the launch of its flagship e-
property, Shop Mandiberg. Located at www.Mandiberg.com, Shop Mandiberg
is an e-commerce site which markets and sells every last one of Michael
Mandiberg's personal possessions. Everything is for sale, from his
underwear to his favorite coats...his apartment keys, to his mostly used
jar of strawberry jam.
Shop Mandiberg aims to undo the process of shopping. The department
store, the catalogue, and now the e-commerce site dominate our lives as
individual consumers. From this finite selection we choose the mass-
produced objects we own, wear, and consume. This collection of objects
forms our "unique" visual identity. By selling these objects Michael
Mandiberg aims to disintegrate himself.
Shop Mandiberg is e-commerce and public performance art. In order to
sell their objects to collectors and museums, artists must sell
themselves to critics, galleries, and fellow artists. Shop Mandiberg
subverts this imperative by taking it one step further than expected: by
'selling out' in a very literal sense.
In this Post-Modern era, art and commerce are often virtually
indistinguishable. To reach viewers, public artists use advertising like
a business. Shop Mandiberg welcomes a new era where the artist not only
claims advertising as a medium, but business itself.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Shop Mandiberg welcomes press inquiries, and encourages
the redistribution of this press release. For further inquiries, and
additional information, please email at [email protected].
2001 Michael Mandiberg, Inc. All rights reserved. Shop Mandiberg,
Mandiberg.com and the Shop Mandiberg logo are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Mandiberg.com. Other company and product
names may be trademarks of their respective owners.