Diva 200 - UoQR Final

“UoQR” 2011, Vinyl Cut.
This compares the difference between a educational system similar to what was descriped in Sir Thomas More's Utopia with an actual institution. University of Openness (Uo) is an online social organized ideal university, that is based on an utopian ideal of “All Students are Teachers and vice versa” (UoCharter 2), with this university only having an online presents, it allows it to be structured in the relevant way. The placing of this banner is within the grounds of another institution, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, which is based at a physical location. As Uo has been displayed with in the Emily Carr premiss it give Uo a fake tangible like between the real and virtual education system, while giving it authority and statues in both worlds. This tangible bridge between the real and virtual world is created by the use of a QR-code, which is part of the banner's design. With in the book “Utopia” by Sir Thomas Moore, it describes a process of constant education for all citizens of “Utopia” through their entire life, with an emphasise on a free and open exchange of idea; as long as no one is forcing there idea's onto another person . Uo in some was can achieve this ideal, due to it's campus on the internet which does allow this ideal of “Utopia” education to be accomplished. Compared to the current educational system which is implemented around there world, with this being structured around hierarchies of knowledge.

These differences between the two structures change once the Uo has a physical place within the world. Uo will now have physical limitations, which previously it didn't have like the restriction of space and members. While Uo has a forged campus it displaces the actual institution by removing part of it's physical location. This act of overwriting something physical by the virtual can be see to be an element of the future, if you buy into science fiction's predictions. Utopia also plays a large role in depicting the future, as it is the place of perfection which does not existence. The artist want to bring these utopian idealism in to this area, as these idealism are used there is the idea of a marxism that can be constructed because the original utopian system has properties of marxism. This bringing of a marxist idea in to an increasingly hegemonic capitalist structure brings out some of the problems which are being encouraged by government change of position on the importance of higher education in our society. These problems include the funding of higher education and it's social standing.