Andreas Löschner-Gornau
German artist on Philippines
"Moos I Chew " 1992
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‘Moos I Chew’ was an idea for my installation in place of "Moosigkau". The title is a word-game. "Moosigkau" sounds like "Moos ich kau". The translation from German into English is - "Moos I chou". It is a variation of the German slang - "Gras fressen" meaning simplify -> ‘I don’t have money that’s why I am eating grass.’
Palace Mosigkau was the residence of the Anhaltiner members of the aristocracy. Moos I chou is declared to prince Frédéric of Anhalt. Who is Prince Frédéric of Anhalt?’
Quotation from the "WDR"(West German Television): "Frédéric of Anhalt was born in 1943 (as Hans Georg Lichtenberg). Although he does not come from a long line of aristocrats, he is a prince. In 1980, he was adopted (for money in size of six-figure / Deutschmark) by the 81 year- old daughter-in-law of the German Emperor, Marie-Auguste Antoinette, princess of Anhalt, Duchess of Saxonia and Countess of Askanien. Since then, he called himself Prince Frédéric of Anhalt.’
The trade in was done with Consul Weyer. But the cunning Frédéric cheated him and did not pay the adoption brokerage.’
After that, Frédéric of Anhalt started a large advertising campaign, which was printed in all German Newsletters and this enabled him to make a lot of acquaintances with pretty ladies from wealthy families. Some of them he married, that way a citizen becomes a princess. Then, he divorces her to be free for the next. Since then, Frédéric of Anhalt produced headlines in the tabloids and because of this, the aristocracy scorned him.’
Especially after his wedding (1986) with the 80 years old Hollywood prima donna Zsa Zsa Gabor (headline: "Offbeat Prince married Hollywood grandma").’
Frédéric is a media professional. He knows how to stage himself and how to make a lot of money by doing that. The press has his fairy prince that enjoys his camera entrances: "I am a well lens-whore!"." End of quotation.’
I made this artwork shortly after the wall break. At this time Frédéric of Anhalt lost a lot of money in the casinos of Las Vegas. And he wanted to sell some of the antique furniture at the Palace Mosigkau because he was thinking that he is the owner of this East German property.’
By myself, as an East German, I was a very young poor artist, with out money in my pockets. But me as an object: "It reminds me that every East German gets 100 Deutschmark when he was visiting West Germany the first time ". That’s true, but my 100 Deutschmarks’ patience was quickly exhausted. Because in the GDR (East Germany state before the wall break) you cant buy any bananas (the Government doesn’t have enough dollars to buy bananas for that nation). So over the years I need to satisfy my banana hunger. When I arrived in West Germany I saw a lot of bananas and I cant stop buying and eating in banana stores.’
Now I know, I made a mistake. Not because I got this bowel constipation, but I asked myself why I was not careful with that 100 Deutschmark? For 100 Deutschmark, you get 46 kg of bananas. With a thrifty enjoyment of 10g of bananas every day, I am able to feed myself (with the 100 Deutschmark) for 4600 days (12,6 years).’
An interesting political phenomenon of that area was the coming back of the aristocracy after the lost victory of communism.’
But it seems to me that there is a democratic process in becoming a member of the aristocracy (example Frédéric). Unfortunately, the manager of Palace Mosigkau was forbidding me to exhibit this artwork during their summer exhibition to which they invited me to present some of my artworks.’
4 computer graphics 100x75cm Stills for the video - duration 27 minutes (played as endless loop) subdivided in following sections: I am sniffing the grass heap I am guarding the grass heap I guzzle the grass heap I am sleeping at the grass heap
Palace Mosigkau was the residence of the Anhaltiner members of the aristocracy. Moos I chou is declared to prince Frédéric of Anhalt. Who is Prince Frédéric of Anhalt?’
Quotation from the "WDR"(West German Television): "Frédéric of Anhalt was born in 1943 (as Hans Georg Lichtenberg). Although he does not come from a long line of aristocrats, he is a prince. In 1980, he was adopted (for money in size of six-figure / Deutschmark) by the 81 year- old daughter-in-law of the German Emperor, Marie-Auguste Antoinette, princess of Anhalt, Duchess of Saxonia and Countess of Askanien. Since then, he called himself Prince Frédéric of Anhalt.’
The trade in was done with Consul Weyer. But the cunning Frédéric cheated him and did not pay the adoption brokerage.’
After that, Frédéric of Anhalt started a large advertising campaign, which was printed in all German Newsletters and this enabled him to make a lot of acquaintances with pretty ladies from wealthy families. Some of them he married, that way a citizen becomes a princess. Then, he divorces her to be free for the next. Since then, Frédéric of Anhalt produced headlines in the tabloids and because of this, the aristocracy scorned him.’
Especially after his wedding (1986) with the 80 years old Hollywood prima donna Zsa Zsa Gabor (headline: "Offbeat Prince married Hollywood grandma").’
Frédéric is a media professional. He knows how to stage himself and how to make a lot of money by doing that. The press has his fairy prince that enjoys his camera entrances: "I am a well lens-whore!"." End of quotation.’
I made this artwork shortly after the wall break. At this time Frédéric of Anhalt lost a lot of money in the casinos of Las Vegas. And he wanted to sell some of the antique furniture at the Palace Mosigkau because he was thinking that he is the owner of this East German property.’
By myself, as an East German, I was a very young poor artist, with out money in my pockets. But me as an object: "It reminds me that every East German gets 100 Deutschmark when he was visiting West Germany the first time ". That’s true, but my 100 Deutschmarks’ patience was quickly exhausted. Because in the GDR (East Germany state before the wall break) you cant buy any bananas (the Government doesn’t have enough dollars to buy bananas for that nation). So over the years I need to satisfy my banana hunger. When I arrived in West Germany I saw a lot of bananas and I cant stop buying and eating in banana stores.’
Now I know, I made a mistake. Not because I got this bowel constipation, but I asked myself why I was not careful with that 100 Deutschmark? For 100 Deutschmark, you get 46 kg of bananas. With a thrifty enjoyment of 10g of bananas every day, I am able to feed myself (with the 100 Deutschmark) for 4600 days (12,6 years).’
An interesting political phenomenon of that area was the coming back of the aristocracy after the lost victory of communism.’
But it seems to me that there is a democratic process in becoming a member of the aristocracy (example Frédéric). Unfortunately, the manager of Palace Mosigkau was forbidding me to exhibit this artwork during their summer exhibition to which they invited me to present some of my artworks.’
4 computer graphics 100x75cm Stills for the video - duration 27 minutes (played as endless loop) subdivided in following sections: I am sniffing the grass heap I am guarding the grass heap I guzzle the grass heap I am sleeping at the grass heap
I am making art.