Dordrecht , 1999

LONELINESS IN THE CITY

Collaboration with the artist Dré Wapenaar to design a mobile platform as the a-topical place where artists, architects and the public could develop and exchange ideas.

TRAVELLING PROJECT:
CBK DORDRECHT;
MUSEUM ABTEIBERG, MÖNCHENGLADBACH;
MACBA, BARCELONA;
KIASMA, HELSINKI;
MIGROS MUSEUM, ZURICH.
DONATED TO THE COLLECTION OF NMAC MONTENMEDIO, CÁDIZ

Loneliness in the City is a long-term research project about loneliness in modern urban life. For a number of years this theme played an important role in the work of Alicia Framis and has been elaborated on in several different forms.

For Loneliness in the City Framis collaborated with the artist Dré Wapenaar to design a mobile platform as the a-topical place where artists, architects and the public could develop and exchange ideas. The oval-shaped pavilion or tent of approximately 12×9 metres contains five sleeping cabins for the participants; the rest of the tent is public space. The pavilion is a research laboratory where ideas are investigated and immediately tested in reality. At the same time it is a community space to meet and relax. An intensive programme of workshops, performances, special video programmes, music and interactive events was organized for each city, to tie in with local issues and participants.

From Mönchengladbach to Dordrecht, to Barcelona, Helsinki and Zurich, insight into the general causes and corners of loneliness gradually grew and alternative strategies for interaction between people in the city were devised.

The programme in Dordrecht concentrated on creating a-topical places – places that do not have a preconceived or predefined function or purpose. The workshops ended up focusing on conquering or claiming space. A public place can become private or intimate by giving it new functions or meanings; conversely, a formerly private space can become a public one.

Guests:

Acephale/performance Amsterdam. Brussels

Carlos Amorales/artist Mexico, Amsterdam

Bibo/artist Rotterdam

Matthijs Bouw/architect Amsterdam

Copray&Scholten/designers Amsterdam

Sara Coremans/fashion designer Antwerp

Hans Eijkelboom/artist Arnhem

Donald Fleming/dancer Amsterdam, New York

Steve Greene/d.j.Amsterdam, New York

Una Henry/artist Ireland, Amsterdam

Renee Kool/artist Amsterdam

Mark Kremer/critic, curator Amsterdam

Gerard Polhuis/artist Amsterdam

Franciska Rijken/dancer Amsterdam

Safy Sniper/v.j Berlin

Sabine Steinhof/interior designer Berlin

Eveline Vermeulen/critic, curator Amsterdam

Lucas Verweij/architect Rotterdam

Loneliness in the City is a long-term research project about loneliness in modern urban life. For a number of years this theme played an important role in the work of Alicia Framis and has been elaborated on in several different forms.

For Loneliness in the City Framis collaborated with the artist Dré Wapenaar to design a mobile platform as the a-topical place where artists, architects and the public could develop and exchange ideas. The oval-shaped pavilion or tent of approximately 12×9 metres contains five sleeping cabins for the participants; the rest of the tent is public space. The pavilion is a research laboratory where ideas are investigated and immediately tested in reality. At the same time it is a community space to meet and relax. An intensive programme of workshops, performances, special video programmes, music and interactive events was organized for each city, to tie in with local issues and participants.

From Mönchengladbach to Dordrecht, to Barcelona, Helsinki and Zurich, insight into the general causes and corners of loneliness gradually grew and alternative strategies for interaction between people in the city were devised.

The programme in Dordrecht concentrated on creating a-topical places – places that do not have a preconceived or predefined function or purpose. The workshops ended up focusing on conquering or claiming space. A public place can become private or intimate by giving it new functions or meanings; conversely, a formerly private space can become a public one.

Guests:

Acephale/performance Amsterdam. Brussels

Carlos Amorales/artist Mexico, Amsterdam

Bibo/artist Rotterdam

Matthijs Bouw/architect Amsterdam

Copray&Scholten/designers Amsterdam

Sara Coremans/fashion designer Antwerp

Hans Eijkelboom/artist Arnhem

Donald Fleming/dancer Amsterdam, New York

Steve Greene/d.j.Amsterdam, New York

Una Henry/artist Ireland, Amsterdam

Renee Kool/artist Amsterdam

Mark Kremer/critic, curator Amsterdam

Gerard Polhuis/artist Amsterdam

Franciska Rijken/dancer Amsterdam

Safy Sniper/v.j Berlin

Sabine Steinhof/interior designer Berlin

Eveline Vermeulen/critic, curator Amsterdam

Lucas Verweij/architect Rotterdam