I hate surveys. Or rather, news articles quoting "recent survey results". They creep up everywhere and are always commissioned by some consumer brand to emphasise their market position. A sugary drinks company would ask people in the street if they rather drink their lemonade or sausage water (that's the fluid in a jar of Frankfurters). The next day they get their findings published in a national newspaper wrapped in a nice editorial, claiming that 82% of the public prefer drinking their product compared to other drinks.

But the main reason why I hate surveys is that they always make me feel even more of an outsider in this world. I hardly ever find myself among the biggest - or any - majority of their results. The METRO (free daily Tube paper) printed a list of "most annoying things" as a result of a survey among over 2,000 Britons. Not only didn't any of my own personal pet hates make the top 10. It also contained a few things I don't find annoying at all. What's wrong with me?

Joe Locke's recent entry in his Journal on joelocke.com has sparked - once more - a little discussion on thevibe.net forum about how far and if at all artists should comment on current affairs, politics and the state of the world. First I felt urged to post a response directly within the forum, but stopped myself just in time - only to use my own "little blog" to publish a note on the subject.

Artists should never stop voicing their opinion if it has the effect of making people/audiences think. This is also one of the points Joe makes in his entry. If it shows somebody an alternative way to what is presented in the one-sided and often censored media, I think we all (everybody who is able to write) need to be allowed and actually encouraged to express our personal thoughts on what is being done in our names all around the world - especially when we disagree. Blogs and forums are a tool which - when used wisely - creates conversation and exchange of ideas and can help people to reflect and question what they are usually expected to just swallow.

Interesting in this particular example is only that the same people who criticise artists for using the limelight (or their blog in this particular case) in order to express how they feel about global issues, are now using a public web forum to defend their own political views.

Our beloved TATE MODERN do quirky stuff sometimes, like throwing parties and making people stand in oversized original artwork when they are distracted while practising their serious art examining faces. So were we - Toni K and I - recently. They snap-shot us secretly, but were at least kind enough to provide us with the result. You can see us here rehearsing the famous Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) stare (level 5, room 2).

There's also a version with the Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) laughter (level 5, room 10)... click here to see it.