Publiek versus privaat op straat

Big pieces of time; obsevatorium
Observatorium
010 Publishers (2010)
ISBN 978-90-6450-680-2
Prijs € 39,50
288 p.
Big pieces of time is a book about three
men who form Observatorium. They are
all concerned with how someone creates
a picture of the world in relation to
himself or herself. In twelve chapters
they describe and present
Observatorium’s philosophy each
chapter is illustrated by one project.
Large images, people’s reactions and
impressions of the project support these
philosophy in these chapters. This
diversity in text and images create a
lively book. Together all chapters and
pictures create a colourful palette and
panorama of Observatorium’s work,
passion and ideas about the space we
live in. The following citation is in short
the outline of these twelve interesting
and inspiring chapters.
“TIME AND SPACE FOR FOCUSSING
ATTENTION
Art needs a spectator. Creating time and
space for focussing attention means
giving, through the work of art, ample
time and space to the spectator. The
exhibition space takes on the nature of a
dwelling, an opportunity for meaning to
arise in the course of a prolonged,
uninterrupted stay.
54 TOPOS / 02 / 2010
OTIUM NEGOTIUM
An observatorium is a paradoxical space
into which you withdraw in order to
determine your relationship to the world.
Perception of the surroundings is
impossible without a gaze into the inner
self. Isolation is a form of participation.
LINKING SEPARATE WORLDS
Observatorium takes a stand against the
fragmentation of the world into separate
zones for working, leisure, transport,
shopping, housing, nature and waste.
Observatorium rejects the boundaries
between the separate worlds, and uses
them to make connections.
CIVILIZATION IS MAINTENANCE
Observatorium makes works of art that
are “unnished” and which develop in
time. Civilization is similarly not a
snapshot in time but a process.
Maintenance is part of that
development, not of the status quo.
THE WORK IS NOT FINISHED UNTIL
SOMEONE USES IT
Observatorium orchestrates liveliness
and provokes people to expand or
modify their projects and sculptures. The
basis for a public sculpture is established
by a claim on space. The basis for a lively
public space is appropriation by people.
MAKE USE OF CONFLICT
Conict and rancour exist alongside
harmony and civilization. Art does not
take sides, but worms its way between
these opposites and makes proposals for
coexistence. Turn antitheses into
ostensible antitheses.
DESIGN WHAT IS THERE
Emptiness and silence are hard to
design. When available, Observatorium
incorporates these characteristics into
design. There are three ways to do it: do
nothing, protect them, and make them
visible.
A SCULPTURE IS IDEALLY THREE THINGS
A sculpture is ideally three things: a work
of imagination, a reection on the
surroundings and a foundation of
communality. It is there to be accepted
and experienced, it discloses the nature
of the context and motivates action.
CELLA, COURTYARD, DOMAIN
Diversity of space arouses curiosity and
creates diversity of use. The succession of
cella, courtyard and domain, phases the
uid links between inside and outside.
Private and public are established in
dialogue.
THE WORLD, AS TOLD
Observatorium makes sculpture for
observing the world. It has to be used.
The artist can initiate any sort of use
which responds to the needs and ideas
of the people it was made for. If he is the
host in his own work, he is able to tell the
story of its use and include reections by
others in his body of work.
STANDSTILL AND MOVEMENT
Space for speed is always surrounded by
slow space. These spaces are usually
separated as much as possible.
Observatorium promotes sculpture that
links these spaces together and creates
opportunity for observation.
ANTONELLO
An “Antonello” in Observatorium’s
parlance is an inhabited sculpture. It is an
object into which the person has
withdrawn to perform a self-imposed
task, while remaining observable and
possibly open to interruptions. The thin
line between public and private is
inherent to the observer and spectator.”
As students and professionals working
with and in space this book could
provide another perspective on the way
we are approaching space. Observe your
observation!
Linda Fritschy