Absorb & Digest
27.01.24- 17.02.24
ABSORPTION
Date: 27.01.2024
Time: 13:45-14:45
Location: 41,37938N, 2,15006E
DIGESTION
Date: 17.02.2024
Time: 13:45
Location: 41,37938N, 2,15006E
"The contemplation of streets isn’t about the streets themselves, so much as it is about the people who inhabit that space, each of whom has the right to be there as anybody else." - Jackson Arn
This project is an ongoing investigation structured into three phases: absorbing, digesting, and releasing. This initial stage marks the beginning of a dynamic project that will evolve and take on various forms as it progresses.
Absorbing- The first phase, absorbing, involved spending one hour on a single bench, where I took notes and recorded videos to capture the moments and thoughts that arose during my observation. The aim was to document the constant flux of fleeting moments occurring around me, focusing on the interactions and subtle exchanges between people in the space.
Digesting- The second phase, digesting, consisted of translating these captured moments into drawings, which I then compiled into a handmade book. This book serves as a visual diary, preserving the essence of the hour spent observing from the bench.
Releasing- In the final phase, releasing, I returned to the same bench and left the book of observational drawings there, not knowing what would happen next. This act was intended to invite the public to engage with the work, creating an organic connection between the observer and the observed. The book is a tool to relate to the public, to capture fleeting moments, and to observe the unique flux from a fixed viewpoint.
This project aims to explore the intricate relationship we have with the urban environment, where we coexist yet remain detached from one another. By preserving these intersections in a format that can outlive the moments, I hope to capture the essence of the city's dynamic life.
The intention is to create similar books from benches in various neighborhoods, documenting the diversity and interactions that define the city's character. Each book will serve as a testament to the unique social fabric of different areas, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the community's richness and complexity.