Words to Go

Subway tickets with protonyms

Words to Go

MIPSEL, RITOB, SMORP—The three protonyms were printed on the back of 200,000 tickets of the Nürnberg Transit District. The tickets entitled the bearer to use VAG public transport in Nuremberg, Fuerth, Erlangen, Schwabach and environs.
“Log-In”, Institut für moderne Kunst, Nuremberg 2000

➚ SMORP – Über Adib Frickes öffentliche Intervention, catalogue text (in German)

Details

Announcement

Starting on October 25th, 2000 and continuing for approximately three weeks the individual tickets of the Nuremberg Transit District (VAG Verkehrsaktiengesellschaft) will be bearing a work by Adib Fricke, The Word Company. The tickets entitle the bearer to use VAG public transit in Nuremberg, Fuerth, Erlangen, Schwabach and environs.

The Word Company's word creations will be printed on the back of 200,000 tickets. The protonyms will circulate within the transit district, accompany the passengers, and get used in the transportation net.

The words are not connected to a particular transportation line. The ticket rolls in the vending machines will be preprinted with the three words which will then appear alternately throughout the event's duration—which one will be next? The tickets can be purchased at all vending machines with the necessary technical specifications—about half of the machines in the VAG transit district. The project will continue until the last ticket is sold.

Find out which words are being used. Go to Nuremberg and buy a piece of art for 3.30 Deutsch marks.