a collection of belly buttons to express human connectiveness

Who am I? Who are we? Where do I belong? These questions are forced upon us more compelling each and every day in a society where traditional values, securities and borders are fading or even completely disappearing. Identifying with brands, stars, position, power and wealth gives us temporary self satisfaction, a certain status and the illusion of being noticed. This identity searching is not just a personal issue. It is a business, cultural and even national issue. We are in a time of change. Conventional authorities are loosing credibility and fighting to stay in power.

In this context of identity searching Marjorieke Glaudemans and Birgitta de Vos encountered each other and initiated the concept ‘I AM TOGETHER’. The purpose of the ‘I AM TOGETHER’ concept is to disarm individual ego power of today’s society and embrace the essence of humanity. Spontaneous ‘out of the belly’ reactions and images on the statement ‘I AM TOGETHER’ will be collected and exposed. ‘People are invited world wide to contribute, with ideas and images, to the concept of I AM TOGETHER. These individual inputs will be the starting point to express a global, multimedia statement on humanity.

The I AM TOGETHER concept to visualize and present the essence of humanity will have an international character and will be unfolded step by step. The first important date is 1 May 2004 as the date for enlargement of the EU, the accession date for the 10 front-line candidate countries: Cyprus, Malta, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Slovenia to enter the EU. This accession date, in Ireland, is an excellent occasion to visualize and present the I AM TOGETHER vision.

2003-2004 ‘I AM TOGETHER, an EUROPEAN Citizen’: Important representatives and inspiring national Leaders of the 25 country members are invited to initiate European citizenship with a picture of their belly button and an individual reaction on the ‘I AM TOGETHER’ statement: -Traveling multimedia expo to all EU countries -Publication -One minute European TV docuspots

2004-2006 ‘I AM TOGETHER, a World Citizen’: Same scenario as above but then within a global instead of European setting.

Partners to be: Bis Publishers, Amsterdam, Phaidon Press Limited, London, Siemens Design Lab, Germany, Philips Design Netherlands, Fabrica/colors, Italy, Jan Teunen konzepte, Germany, NPS, VPRO, IMI, Instituut voor Maatschappelijke Innovatie, Leiden, De Balie, Amsterdam, International Dutch Embassies (cultural attaché’s), Dutch government and EU representatives.

June 2003 © Foundation I AM TOGETHER is a concept of Marjorieke Glaudemans, artist and Birgitta de Vos, identity & awareness designer. 

update juni 2006

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