20080604

fi manifesto

You are standing in an open territory; you are a witness to the degradation of human existence.
To the west is a sea of criminalization of all human exchange, turning all natural energy towards the alienation and extinction of human life.
To the south is the theft of public value by the belligerent sphere.
To the north and east is the manufacture of arms and toxic conspiracies, the creation of oppressive vibes for these wasting agents. From where you stand you can clearly see that the sole engine driving your country is polluting your very existence.

You are on the street, there is a game; play.

The exercise of this ludic recreation is the framework of the questionable existence with choice either within or beyond the sphere of the “playground.” Exploring the independence of choice of each and all is in the value of the game; of decisions freely chosen. The provocation of the game, its abstraction of real-life situations, engages the player in an urban experience shifting between imposed instructions and freedom of choice. Therefore, we propose an autonomous engagement of gamers of the new culture, free from ties or obligations of any sort, as the game requires a free being unchained to commitments that might threaten the choices taken.

Playing the game means to choose.

1-Choose to choose
The city brings forth several streets to journey on.
Similarly, life presents itself with diverse situations. Choose what game you want to play, make sure it is your game, and not of someone else’s ploy. A person cannot choose how he is born, but has the right to choose how he dies.

Do not allow other people to control you; choose to control your life.
2-Choose to exist
Johann Huizinga, Dutch Historian, once said that play cannot be denied. You can deny nearly all the abstractions: justice, beauty, truth, goodness, mind, God. You can deny seriousness, but not play. In our world, to exist, you must play.
3-Choose to live
Passivity is an easy trap to fall into. Being detached from your surroundings means renouncing your right to participate. Choose to walk the earth; exist.
4-Choose to control
Ultimately, and metaphorically speaking, suicide represents complete control over life and choice of the means to its end. Choose to control your destiny; resist unsolicited interventions into your life.
5-Choose to solve
The street is an obstacle course. Refuse to fail; failing is not an option. If you say you can, or you say you cannot, either way you are right. Insist on finding the solution. Engage consciously in action.
6-Choose to play
Make outdoor space a right; streets are not battlefields, they are playgrounds.

To play this game you must choose to exist in the game, exist in the street, exist in the country.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

i really didn't get the point!!

Anonymous said...

Dear FI.
First of all mabrouk...I am proud, it is really well done.
Second of al, if I can't get a job designing buildings, can I work for you?
Third of all, when do you need my help distributing?

O.B's

Anonymous said...

dear FI,
i think this game is very smart...it sends a very appealing message to all Lebanese people.the message also is sent very subtly... ud have to be very smart to actually know this message...anyway good luck!!

Anonymous said...

hey fi
just wanted to say that i like ur design work (especially the paper)..
concerning the game: what's the prize??

Anonymous said...

I didn't read all of it but it looks interristing so far! How does the winner know that he win?

Anonymous said...

Wow, I guess "this is not a game"!!!!
I choose to play!

mia said...

Very smart riddles to find the location!

Anonymous said...

who is behind this?
who is financing?
who are you??

Anonymous said...

WEIRD PEOPLE

Anonymous said...

First of all, I would really like to thank you guys for this game! it looks awesome and I'm trying my best!
very cool riddles!