Loneliness in the city, 1999—2000. traveling project Dordrecht CBK, Moenchengladbach Museum Abteiberg, Barcelona MACBA, Helsinki KIASMA, Zurich Migros Museum. Collection: donated to NMAC Montenmedio, Cadiz.
Loneliness in the city is a long-term research project about loneliness in modern urban life. For a number of years this theme plays an important role in the work of Alicia Framis had has been elaborated on in several different forms.
For Loneliness in the city she designed, together with the artist Dre Wapenaar, a mobile platform as the atopic place where artists, architects and the public could develop and exchange ideas. The oval shaped pavilion or tent of approximately 12x9 meters 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. As the same time it is a community space to meet and relax. An intensive programmer of workshops, performances, special video programs, music and interactive events was organized for each city separately connected with local issues and participants.
Form Moenchengladbach to Dordrecht, to Barchelona, Helsinki and Zurich insight gradually grew in the general causes and corners of loneliness and alternative strategies for interaction between people in the city were created.
The programme in Dordrecht concentrated on creating a-topic places. Places that do not have a preconceived and defined function or purpose. The workshops turned out to focus on conquering or claiming space. In giving new functions or meanings to a place, a public place can become private or intimate and—the other way around—a former private space can turn into 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