I began with this project in the beginning of 2006. People told me often I was always looking sad without feeling sad. I was sick to hear this so I tried to learn myself how to laugh all the time.
ACT I : I started laughing at the streets to people who crossed me on my way. I started to laugh to everybody I passed by all over the city. I did this for one month.
ACT II : I wrote everything down at the same moment it happened. A example :
Time 13.40h
Date 10th January 2006
Situation Tram to Korenmarkt Ghent
Kind of person Crazy old man
Kind of connection I’m smiling at him but he doesn’t smile back
The result was a notebook and my objections.
ACT III : Mona Lisa Performance
Three facts I work with: You can’t really tell if she is smiling or not
She is looking to you very directly She is known by everyone
I did a a performance in front of a room with 300 people on a performance-evening (Reflux/fluxus). I first hung a portrait of her on the wall behind me to clarify the link. Then I sat on a chair the same way she is sitting. After I watched the audience in the eye for five minutes, I kept on smiling, waiting for reaction.
