GMU:Provokative Architektur/Amel

2. OCTOBER 2012

6. NOVEMBER 2012

Goethes Parking Lot (Goethes Parkhaus)

I´m mostly inspired by parking lots as sites that can be seen as non-places. I would like to focus on these non-places, their previous states and the story behind them. The structure and design of a parking lot appears to be timeless because the function has not changed in the last century and will probably not change in the forceable future.

The visual simplicity and interchangeability of a parking lot seems like a provocation in itself in a city like Weimar, where historical individuality and uniqueness of architectural space is highly valued. I will create a historical intervention and performance that is based on real events. The intention of my project is to reference a real house or space that has been overwritten by this non-place, more precisely a parking lot.

I want to define a space in which the visitor gets the impression of being in another event in time while still being in the present. In this audio installation you will be provoked to remember something which is not pleasant and to reflect on the present.

I am working with aspects of modernism, ownership of a “place” and the manifestations of a shrouded history that have been re-contextualized. I need to research to discover a particular happening that contrasts to the present time. I think there is an interesting comparison that can be made between the past and the present. You could say that the Nationalism movement had a vision of a utopian society that was free from impurities. The modern shopping mall is also a utopian vision of society, there is no dirt, no nature, its a “clean” place. As an artist I want to remain objective, by choosing these particular sites I want to create an experience for the visitor that enables them to be connected to the past and the present and to draw their own conclusions.

13. NOVEMBER 2012

Hanging around Weimar Atrium

I spend some time making field studies in and around the Weimar Atrium. Wondering through the parking lot I noticed some quotes at the walls. With regard to the history of the place most of the quotes have an absurd, almost ironic effect. Especially the selection of authors seems much dubious to me. Here are some of them:

Graffiti auf der Berliner Mauer (1989): Die kamen, sahen und gingen ein bisschen einkaufen."
Marcel Dutchman (1913): "Kunst liegt auf der Strasse, und sie steht in den Regalen der Kaufhäuser."
Marilyn Monroe: "Einkaufen gehen macht Spaß, hab ich festgestellt. Das ist was ganz weibliches."
Woody Ellen: "Natürlich gibt es eine jenseitige Welt. Die Frage ist nur: Wie weit ist sie von der Innenstadt entfernt und wie lang hat sie offen."

For this week I´m focusing on further research in fields of the phenomenon Mall and the actual consistency of this place (textures, design, smell, sound etc).