Michael Rakowitz 'RETURN'

Rakowitz re-started his grandfathers import and export business dealing with trade between the US and Iraq during the time of war between the two countries. He opened a shop front in new york where customers were invited to send anything they liked to iraq free of charge, building up a conection bewteen the two countries. The project became a community art piece as the store turned into a social space for the 'customers' to interact and discuss. it also ran along side Rakowitz attempting to import to the US product clearly marked with an iraq origin where hadn't been a deal of such a kind in 25 years. The ongoing saga of the iraq dates being imported became a talking point in the shop community mirroring the struggles of iraq refugees and the path they have followed.

http://michaelrakowitz.com/projects/return/

full bio and store log of: http://www.creativetime.org/programs/archive/2006/whocares/store_log_final.pdf