Der Apparat

»Der Apparat« illuminates the small-scale aspects in the administrative and political networks in the state of Saarland. The result is a fragmentary representation of the range of state events, processes and interfaces.

In public, the image of a state is most likely defined by the focus on outstanding and decisive events. The appearance of a country is closely linked to the personalities of its political dignitaries. The resulting associations are further fed by iconic motifs, created by the media: often big and pompous, sometimes violent and brutal. In the worst case scenario, we become visually flooded with pictures of crises, conflicts or even wars. These pictures take control over the public perception of a particular government or an entire political movement. Stylized superlatives are created, mostly interspersed with clichés.

Far from these visual forces, the actual work of the elected representatives, which is often invisible to the population, takes place: The running of the Federal Republic of Germany. An immense apparatus, which in its entirety is hardly tangible and which is divided into the organs and institutions of the executive, judicial and legislative branches. With millions of employees who organize and manage the country in countless ministries, authorities and departments. Their everyday locations, in the form of canteens, corridors, offices, meeting rooms and plenary rooms, provide the daily venues for political agreements, discussions and processes. It is only from these seemingly endless networks that a bigger picture starts to develop, that which we commonly perceive as the German state.

»Der Apparat« illuminates the small-scale aspects in the administrative and political networks in the state of Saarland. The result is a fragmentary representation of the range of state events, processes and interfaces.