1,2,3,4
(Maastricht / Brusselsestraat 33)
In 1,2,3,4 (2007 – 2008) Zhou Tao (China, 1976) recorded morning staff meetings in over forty shops and companies in Shanghai. The video’s were edited on the rhythm of the counting (1, 2, 3, 4….) in corporate songs of these companies, which produces a very stylized image. These companies are witnessing constant changes in their collective outlook and motivations in order to secure a larger market share and high profitability. Beneath the surface of the efficiency-driven management strategies of modern companies, 1,2,3,4 shows the impact of an increasing growth in population and drastic changes in the social structure. Because of the solidarity of the groups and their body language, the individual almost gets lost in the group. The staff meetings provide for an exciting choreography.