The Germany show featured Time Code, a program curated by Carl-Ludwig Rettinger, and Van Gogh TV, curated by Benjamin Heidersberger.
The Time Code project was created in 1985 by a group of TV programmers, museum curators and independent producers from seven different countries: Channel 4 (Great Britain), Cat Fund (United States), Agent Orange (Canada), I.N.A. (France), TVE (Spain), ZDF (West Germany), NOS and the Stedelijk Museum (Holland). Each member commissioned a piece from a video artist in their country, and received the full program in return.
The project was underpinned by the idea of using television as a creative medium and fostering the development of an international coproduction and exchange system, while respecting the cultural identities of those involved.
artists
Works
Curator's text Carl-Ludwig Rettinger, 1990
Time Code
Time Code I
The basic idea of this project is to use TV as a creative medium and to foster the development for an international system of co-production and interchange, where the cultural identity for each part may be respected. Time Code was created in 1985 by a group of TV programmers, museums curators and independet producers of seven countries. Channel 4 (U.K.), CAT Fund (USA), Agent Oragne (Canada), I.N.A. (France), TVE (Spain), ZDF (West Germany), Nos and Stedelij Museum (Holland). Each member ordered a video from a national artist, receiving, in exchange, the whole program.
In its 52s minutes, Time Code first edition presents seven works of internationaly renowned videomakers: Robert Cahen, Gustav Hámos, Brenda Miller, Xavier Vilaverde, Jaap Drupsteen, Bernard Hébert, Anne Wilson and Marty St. James. In 1987, this program was broadcasted by seven countries; it was also shown throughout the world at several museums and festivals, having received a special award at the Montreal Video and Movie Festival.
Time Code II
This first experience was strong and encouraging; thus a second edition of Time Code was lauched with the participation of other countris as well: ORP (Austria), MTV (Bulgaria), TV Belgrade (Yugoslavia), Orama Films (Greece), KTCR (USA), RTBF (Belgium), Karemos Productions (Mozambique), M.R. (Costa Rica), and once more TV Channel 4, I.N.A. and ZDF. Under the theme "Music Transfer", the video artist were expected to create images based on the traditional music of their countries. The final program, with one hour durantion time, has a musical selection that ranges from Costa Rica calypso up to Belgian folk-rock, passing by Yuguslavian dervishes, Britain baopipes, Bavarian schuhplatter and even North American gospel and rap. The program does not present commercial videoclips but twelve "cultura" ones (Bazon Brock), where folk and traditional music is seen through the eyes of contemporary artists.
Time Code III
Today television is a product of a multinational entertainment industry controlled by several American, European and Japanese companies whose standardized products permeate every corner of the planet. Cultures from different regions and populations are increasingly influenced, not to say devasted. by this unilateral flow of images and informations.
The Time Code team decided to use television as a means of visual communication and cultural interchange, respecting each member and identity. Time Code co-production model allows smaller countries to participate at the same footing, no matter their resources. Besides all the economic advantages presented by Time Code for co-producers, one of the greatest challenges has been to create an international network where programmers, curators and cultural programs producers can communicate and compete in an enviroment of growing commercial values.
8th Fotoptica Internacional Video Festival. 09 a 15 de Novembro de 1990. p. 16.