The Office of Mass Resignation
"The Office of Mass Resignation" is a site-specific installation that delves into the stark realities of the modern labour-force. At first glance, the office setup appears ordinary—an array of desks, chairs, and office equipment. However, a closer observation reveals a notable absence of human activity. The space is filled with the mechanical sound of a dot matrix printer that relentlessly ejects papers, underscoring the perpetual motion of bureaucracy in stark contrast to human absence.
Participants engage directly with the installation by filling out complaint forms, submitting them into a designated box, and then retrieving corresponding responses from an automated system. The surrounding environment is replete with files containing records of prior complaints, which participants can peruse, adding a layer of interactive historical context.
The artwork captures the disassociation prevalent in contemporary workplaces, magnified by the pandemic's isolative impacts and the growing inclination toward virtual existence. This theme of disconnection is poignantly symbolized by a lone resignation letter pinned to the notice board, embodying the global workforce's frustration and disillusionment.
"The Office of Mass Resignation" critically examines the dichotomy between the so-called global north and global south within the framework of employment.. It presents the office as a metaphorical trap that only a privileged few can escape.
This installation not only reflects on the bureaucratic frustrations that pervade post-pandemic life but also challenges viewers to confront the pervasive disconnection and apocalyptic undertones shaping our interactions and professional landscapes today.
Mandate
The Office of Mass Resignation (OMR) (Establishment, Administration, and Discharge of Functions Act 58 of 2021), enacted in December 2021, is tasked with accommodating and mitigating the upward trend of citizens choosing to relinquish their participation in work, politics, social life, by determining the validity of all claims of complaint and with awarding of denying the appropriate permissions to dissociate.
OMR_REPORT_FEB 2022 Excerpt
Employees and senior management report receiving an unprecedented number of complaints within the first fortnight of operation. Reviewing the mounting number of complaints has become a colossal task. Numerous employees themselves have submitted their own applications for dissociation. Necessary measures were taken by senior management to provide aftercare and psychological support to the department’s remaining staff, which have yet been unable to prevent the mounting resignation of employees.
Memo: 31 March TO: OMR Management, SUBJECT: Resignation with Immediate effect -
Months after the abandoning of operations, and much to the surprise of the senior management, the machinery of our office continues to function. I do not know who ensures this, there is no one here. The public continues to submit applications of complaints and our office machinery continues to generate evaluations. Today is my last day.
Installation view, Serendipity Arts Festival 2022, Goa
