A Postcard for Your Thoughts

As rush hour begins at Berlin's bustling Schönhauser Allee station, people push past each other, pressed to catch a connecting train. In their midst, a young woman dressed like a secretary from a 1950's film calmly types away on an equally old-fashioned typewriter while listening intently to the man seated opposite her. A sign beside them reads "If I were chancellor…"

When the man finishes dictating his message to Germany's political leaders, the "secretary" hands him his postcard, complete with postage. He twirls a wheel of rubber stamps, selects one that says "Urgent," and inks this in bright red across his card. He then drops the card into a mailbox conveniently located just a few steps away, a look of satisfaction on his face.

The scene -- part political event, part art happening -- causes passersby to slow their pace. Some just watch, while others get in line for a chance to have their say. It's all the brainchild of the woman in the red secretary's costume, American artist and journalist Sheryl Oring.

In the year leading up to the 2004 elections in the United States, Oring travelled across her country with a similar project called "I wish to say," typing over a thousand postcards for people who wanted to voice their concerns to President George W. Bush.

"The reaction in the States was so great that I thought of trying it in other countries," says Oring, who had previously worked and studied in Germany and speaks fluent German.

German grammar

Despite having a good grasp of the language, Oring says she was slightly nervous about taking her "show" to Germany.

"I have to tell people to speak slowly because I'm not a native speaker, and when I'm done, I give them the chance to read it over and correct the grammar mistakes," she laughs.

But she added that being a foreigner has its advantages, as it makes people curious, and more likely to participate.

"I didn't know how it would go over in Germany, but people are really into doing it," Oring says. "People have a lot of concerns about unemployment and social benefits, for example, and they're really eager to talk about that. Here, people don't feel the media or the politicians are listening to them, but this project gives them that. In a way, it's a service to people, and that's something that's been very gratifying."

Thomas, a 42-year-old Berliner, sat down with Oring to tell her about his dissatisfaction with the current economic and social situation in Germany. On his postcard, he wrote to Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of his concern that Germany is moving too far in the direction of the US when it comes to labor policy.

"People are being forced into doing any old job, even if it is below their qualifications, just so that they're back at work," Thomas said, adding that he appreciated Oring's project.

"If you express your opinion as part of an art project, you know you won't have to face any repercussions," he said. "It's a safe way to do it."

Diverse responses

While many of the postcards deal with election campaign issues such as unemployment, pensions, and education, other participants used their time at Oring's desk to air their pet peeves, or let their imaginations run wild.

"I would charge a big fee for people who don't clean up after their dogs," wrote one disgruntled Berliner.

"I'd like to be the King of Berlin," wrote another resident whose solution to the city's problems would be to "open a big casino so everyone would be happy."

Queuing up to talk with Oring, eight-year-old Gabriel excitedly outlined a list of laws he would pass if he were chancellor, including one that would "allow kids to play soccer everywhere."

It's the diversity of responses that keeps Oring going. She is bringing "If I were chancellor" to five German cities over a period of three weeks, and expects to type as many as 200 cards. She keeps a copy of each card, and is hoping to turn them into an exhibition or a book.

"I'm always amazed at people's answers," she says. "Even though I've done the show before, it never feels repetitive. When I meet new people and hear a really moving story, that's when I think it's all worth it."