There is art in bureaucracy. As you may know, the Region of Ottawa-Carleton recently amalgamated into the City of Ottawa. Having been employed by the Region's Art Program, I sat through numerous presentations on restructuring, all of which were illustrated by elaborate organizational charts. Short on specifics, the charts were just as readable as abstract compositions as they were as plans for a new city. That an element of the bureaucratic process could be read as art suggested the form for an artwork specific to Kitchener City Hall.

Organizational charts are familiar to most, in fact the one presented is of Kitchener's own municipal structure, but when integrated into the design of the building, the origin and intent of the chart becomes difficult to discern. Is this art or the Rosetta Stone of all bureaucratic directives? Equally, is this decoration or are the coloured squares a secular substitute for stained glass?

A contemporary artist living in Ottawa, Ontario. Combining disparate interest in abstraction, advertising, and the Cold War, Göllner presents work that often leaves the viewer wondering whether the piece is genuine, satirical, or both. Indeed, in works recently created for billboards, ad cases, and retail counters, Göllner is able to introduce subverted information by closely emulating commercial design standards. Of note are his self-published series trading cards, the Cold War Cards.

Göllner sits as president of the board of Artengine, a contemporary artist-run internet site. Göllner received a BFA from Queen's University in 1987.

www.adriangollner.ca