We work a lot. We may work a little too much. According to the latest available data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the average human spends an average of 1,770 hours a year at the office.
Regardless of whether you work full-time behind a desk, or as a freelancer poring over a laptop in a cafe, sooner or later most of us come into contact with the atmosphere of the workplace, which includes endless emails, no paper in the photocopier, malfunctioning coffee-makers, and hurried conversations in the hallways. In the end, many of us spend most of our lives at work. We spend so much of our time at the office, but have we ever taken the time to take a proper look at the modern office environment? Do all offices look practically the same? Does the work atmosphere differ if you work in a corporation or a cultural institution? Are we more productive in a small cubicle or in a bright open space? Where among the piles of documents and back-to-back meetings is there a time and place for spontaneous creativity? Does it not manifest itself in the doodles in the margins of our notes, in paperclip sculptures, or in the collections of kitschy magnets on the department’s whiteboard?
The International Office Art Biennale (IOAB) will give us a chance to explore all these questions further. This interactive project aims to tap into the creativity of the office and encourage the workforce to use their imagination, enjoy themselves, to create 'office art' and share it with the world.
Krzysztof Biliński, from the Office International Art Biennale team, explains:
The idea for an exhibition of office art was born during a marathon of meetings – an intrinsic part of office life. We wanted to create a project associated with art, but which would be inclusive, and available to everyone.
Romuald Demidenko, the IOAB's curator, adds:
This social platform will also serve as a space to look more closely at modern workplace phenomena and initiate a discussion on the current condition of working life, as well as all of its 'props'.
What is the biennale about? And what is considered office art? Check out internationalofficeartbiennale.com to find out! As of December 2015, office artists from around the globe can submit their masterpieces – regardless of age, place of work, position, or even artistic skills. Submit your office art via the website or by using the biennale hashtags on Instagram or Facebook: #IOAB, #internationalofficeartbiennale.
Over the next few months, Demidenko, along with the Biennale team, will select the best 'works' of art submitted by users. These masterpieces will then be presented during the first ever International Office Art Biennale exhibition in Warsaw, the birthplace of the IOAB.
Join us and take part in the International Office Art Biennale!
internationalofficeartbiennale.com
facebook.com/internationalofficeartbiennale
instagram.com/internationalofficeartbiennale
#IOAB #internationalofficeartbiennale