Arbit City
In Search of Happiness

The artwork consists of a grid of maritime signal flags, that brings together the universe of naval communications and flashy quotes for the public space. Placed on sculpturally made poles and bases and installed on the facade of the building, it uses the flamboyant stature of the flag in contrast with the environment of the area.

Each of the selected phrases stands for a contemporary pathogeny of the Athenian – and furthermore the Greek – environment, with regards to public dialogue or its absence. The work is a mutating system, as the flags change in regular time frames to serve a new phrase.

This time the gloomy approach introduces a new chapter after the tender reconciliation. Arbit City take the position of Laocoon, Poseidon’s priest who warned Troy about the Trojan Horse, but was stopped by the Gods when they sent sea serpents to strangle him and his sons.

In a continuous silent scream against a persistent Trojan Horse, Arbit City attempts to create anecdotal phrases to be used by the public; once decoded. The harbinger of the imminent catastrophe is set by the International Code of Signals, as both salvation and damnation come from the sea.

The phrases can be decoded through the International Code of Signals index. A is for I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed.
C is for Affirmative.
G is for I require a pilot.

Arbit City is a visual artists group which focuses mainly on issues relating to public space, to the collective unconscious and lately, to private institution strategies. It was formed in Athens in 2011.