 TROCANDO FIGURINHAS:  OPERAÇÃO PILOTO 
(swapping stickers: pilot operation)
from "trocando figurinhas" to "Correspondence/ArtConnect 2020" 


"trocando figurinhas" (swapping stickers) is a research project in form of visual correspondence and image exchanging developed daily by the artists Gabriel Pessoto (https://www.artconnect.com/profiles/gabriel-pessoto) and Nicole Kouts since May, 2020. For this open call, correspondence, we present an unfolding of this process that consists of a set of instructions that can be put in practice by anyone who feels encouraged to perform this action.
The instructions present a group of actions to be done in pairs in which a random text (generated by any online tool) is created. By collecting images from online search tools, each word in the text is replaced by an image. A “visual letter” in video is edited by compiling the collected images and, finally, can be sent to a remote recipient.
To translate/materialize this proposition into images, we made the video "trocando figurinhas: operação piloto" (swapping stickers: pilot operation), a record of the instructions being put into practice. The video is available on the ArtConnect platform along with the instructions. The dynamics of the video consists of five screens organized into one, like a grid: two webcams that records the artists during the action in front of the computer (where the action takes place), two simultaneous screen recordings of both computers and a central screen that functions as a table, where the exchanges of interleaved images occur in sequence. The visual letter created during this action can be requested by email: trocandofigurinhas2020@gmail.com.
By establishing this space of correspondence, the project proposes that remote and unusual dialogs can occur from collective process, permeated by visual references, interferences and mutual influences. Many of the questions proposed by this project dialogue with Mail Art, which began in the 20th century with the premise of disseminating artworks in an alternative and subversive circuit, understanding the routes and transits themselves as fundamental parts of the works, as well as several performative actions guided by pre-set instructions.
Due to digital tools, new practices are possible which deliberately go through all the stages of trocando figurinhas creations. These mechanisms operate by suppressing/replacing a large part of our choices in relation to the result of the experience (random text generated online, research tools and the use of artificial voice to guide the video editing).
"trocando figurinhas" (2020) operates as a post-internet version of messages in bottles that were thrown into the sea and taken to an indefinite destination. Likewise, these letters written together by people and automated tools become digital archives that can navigate to any point on the web (or even different points simultaneously). Enigmatic memos to remote recipients, instructions invented to keep in touch.


> TROCANDO FIGURINHAS /  INSTRUCTIONS

1. Invite someone who lives at least one room away from you to form a pair. 
2. Generate a random text through any website or app. This text will serve as a basis to create a "visual letter".
3. Number all the words of the text, noticing the possible repetitions of words. The odd-numbered words will be used by one of the participants and the even-numbered words by the other. 
4. Collect images to replace each word of the text, respecting the numeric order. In the case of word repetition, the image shall be repeated as well. This mechanism allows you to create a visual glossary that might be used in the future for different practices. The images shall be saved/stored properly numbered in a folder shared by the pair.  
5. A visual letter will be created on video using the collected words, respecting the numbering and the possible repetition of words in the text.
6. While editing, to define how long an image will last on the video, the text shall be read by an artificial voice system. The time it takes to enunciate each word will define the time the images will be screened.  
7. Send the visual letter to a remote recipient. 


> TROCANDO FIGURINHAS: OPERAÇÃO PILOTO (swapping stickers: pilot operation) 

We decided to create and share this video as a record of the instructions being put into practice by ourselves. We hope it helps you to find the best way to follow the instructions and to be part of this project by creating your own visual letter to a remote recipient. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGBS1ruVosg&feature=youtu.be


> REQUEST THE VISUAL LETTER created by the action above by email 
trocandofigurinhas2020@gmail.com



/ ABOUT THE PROJECT / TROCANDO FIGURINHAS 

"trocando figurinhas" (swapping stickers) is a project developed by Gabriel Pessoto and Nicole Kouts. Both of us work and live in São Paulo (SP, Brazil). We have been working on the action "estamos trocando figurinhas" (we're swapping stickers), since May, 2020, where we're building up a dialogue based on a daily image exchange. Each day, one of us adds a new image answering to the previous post. A blog (link below) was created to store this collection of images, since this action is meant to last for a long period. 
The project emerged/started when an art residency program (Temos Vagas!, Ateliê397), where we were studio neighbours, was interrupted due to the spreading of the pandemic. Since we noticed dialogues between our researches and creative processes, we decided to work remotely on our blog and keep thinking about possible ramifications of the project involving video, image editing, visual collections and digital correspondences. 

/ CONTACT 

-  "estamos trocando figurinhas "(blog): https://estamostrocandofigurinhas.tumblr.com/
-  e-mail: trocandofigurinhas2020@gmail.com

- Gabriel Pessoto  https://gabrielpessoto.com
- Nicole Kouts  https://www.nicolekouts.com


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Nicole Kouts