The Creation of We, Them and Us

During the practice today, Robin, Maite and Stef  brought attention to how we create the notion of we, them and us in public space.

In Robin’s exercise we walked slowly through the subway pathway with cups, in constant movement, over our ears. Three people made white noise with megaphones, while recording white noise sound, four people were walking and listening, as well as one person filming.  We became a spectacle, a group of people that other people in the subway did not intervene or talk to us. I think in the terms of that exercise we did not understand the space we were in. We created a new milieu within the backdrop of the subway path. How could have people access our practice? Take part in our study of noise? In one way, I felt we could have been in a gallery or museum context. Where information of what we were doing could have been handed out. The purpose of the public space, a space people rush through is, in one way, a pity when Robin has quite a lot of research for the viewer to take part in, information that might make the viewer more included in the experiment of understanding space and noise?  

Stef took us to Queen’s Galleria, a space where we examined sound in the this particular space. We were encouraged to melt in with the people around us and just tune in to the sound. The galleria is built with an atrium that creates a beautiful echo and soundscape, which reminded me of a opera house. The space as such is filled with luxury shopping and tourists having expensive coffee. The soundscape was oozing international luxury, high heels against the stone floor, suitcases with little wheels and languages from around the world. I walked by a sign that announced that the Galleria was under camera surveillance.

      The last practice of the day was directed by Maite, she led us to Place de Luxembourg for a hour’s contemplation. With our pre-made paper carpets we marked out our space for contemplations. I faced the EU parliaments main entrance since I lacked a object to contemplate. I was interrupted two times during my practice by a curious stranger and security guards. Otherwise I had a peaceful moment. I not sure what purpose the marked up space filled more than letting my surroundings know I was doing something out of the ordinary, and maybe that was just purpose enough? A little interruption in the everyday scene, and a place for people to create a narrative or give a fictitious purpose to my practice.