The Yes Men
The Yes Men
An art-activist intervention at GO_EXPO, Canada's largest oil conference
Creative Contribution
What was the significant innovation in approach or thinking behind the project/artwork? How can this be recognisably attributed to the involvement of creative practice?
A 2007 intervention titled 'Exxon's Climate-Victim Candles' saw Yes Men member Andy Bichlbaum pose as Shepard Wolff, a Representative of the National Petroleum Council at GO_EXPO, Canada's largest oil conference. The speech was billed beforehand by the GO-EXPO organizers as the major highlight of this year's conference. During the speech, the "NPC rep" announced that current U.S. and Canadian energy policies are increasing the chances of huge global calamities. But he reassured the audience that in the worst case scenario, the oil industry could "keep fuel flowing" by transforming the billions of people who die as a result of these catastrophes, into oil. He then went on to describe the technology used to render human flesh into a new Exxon Oil product called Vivoleum and encouraged the audience to light candles made from the flesh of a former Exxon janitor, that had been transformed using this new product. (sourced from theyesmen.org)
Collaboration
What were the disciplinary contributors to the project? What model of research / development was followed? What were factors leading to success / problems?
The Yes Men Made is made up of a loose knit association of 300 impostors worldwide, who infiltrate corporate organisations with the intention of exposing their inner corruption. Using a technique that they call identity correction, they create and maintain fake websites similar to the ones that they want to spoof and then accept invitations that they receive via these sites, to appear at conferences, symposia and on TV show. A small number of their projects have commented on the issue of climate change, by making high profile interventions at corporate and oil industry conferences. (sourced from theyesmen.org)
Values
What were the outcomes of the project? How were these disseminated to outside stakeholders? What models of value are implied by this project? What was the Impact of the work?
Links and Resources
http://www.theyesmen.org/
