A programme of presentations, mapping workshops, exhibition and publications, organised by the art/architecture collective public works, Stanley Picker Fellows in Design at the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture, Kingston University. With contributions by: Agents of Change, Alex Warnock Smith, Anna Mansfield, atelier d’architecture autogéré, Can Altay, City Mine(d), Dorian Moore, drmm architects, Elizabeth Price, Jonathan Kraut, Julie Scott, Markus Miessen, Mehrdad Seyf, Peter Arlt, Polly Brannan, Robert Mull and others.
public works are a London-based art and architecture collective with a strong interest in the co-existence of informal and formal social networks within architectural structures. Their practice includes a wide range of participatory public realm projects.
Can You Show Me the Space points to a conceptual and practical need within design disciplines, to capture, visualise and acknowledge social and informal phenomena as part of architectural production. The representation of space within design/architecture is primarily focused on the description of the built form. Everyday life demonstrates that programmes and social networks are not confined to single built structures. Instead they spread across sites, time and relationships, and create new networks of spaces that we all use but almost never acknowledge or recognise as spatial constructs. Can You Show Me the Space offers different public platforms to explore five theme-based blocks: Setting a Setting; Representation of Relational Spaces; Mapping the Centre of Useless Splendour; Architecture as Extended Social Space and Relational Mapping Tools. Each block will result in a fanzine of visual material accompanied by a commissioned essay, available throughout the exhibition and launched at the end of the exhibition as a compiled publication.
PROGRAMME: All events take place at the Stanley Picker Gallery unless otherwise stated. No booking required.
Setting a Setting with Can Altay
A collaborative set up of the physical and conceptual parts of the exhibition, before it opens to the public. The collaboration and accompanying text and visual material will be published in Fanzine 1.
Wed 28 Nov 10am – 2pm Performing Doodles
First day of a two-part work-session mapping, drawing and sewing together informal children’s narratives of the city of Qazvin, Iran. With Anna Page (Architectural Designer), Jonathan Karkut (Geologist, London Metropolitan University), Julie Scott (Anthropologist, London Metropolitan University) and Mehrdad Seyf (Director, 30 Bird Productions).
5.30pm The Mapping of Relational Spaces Talk by public works
public works introduce their research and practice-related projects such as Granville Cube in South Kilburn and Building Stories in Quazvin, Iran. With Andreas Lang, Kathrin Böhm and Torange Khonsari.
6.30-8.30pm Exhibition Opening and launch of Fanzines 1 and 2.
Tue 4 Dec 2.30pm – 6pm Performing Doodles ctd
Second day of a two-part work session, mapping and designing the spaces of performance related to children’s informal narratives of the city of Qazvin, Iran. (See above for participants)
Wed 5 Dec & Thu 6 Dec 1pm – 6pm Mapping the Centre for Useless Splendour
Two days of drop in workshops and survey of existing and speculative research spaces at Kingston University. Together with staff and students and in collaboration with Elizabeth Price (Artist and Reader in Fine Art, Kingston University). Fanzine 3 will compile the result from the survey together with texts and essays on the subject.
Wed 12 Dec 6pm Architecture as Extended Social Space
Presentations of existing architectural projects, which describe and illustrate the wider social network and space associated with the built project. With architectural practices Agents of Change (London), atelier d’architecture autogéré (Paris) and drmm architects (London).
Fanzine 4 will capture the forms of representation suggested by the different practices, with an additional essay by Professor Robert Mull, Architect and Head of Architecture and Spatial Design at the London Metropolitan University
www.theaoc.co.uk http://madeo.club.fr/aaa.htm www.drmm.co.uk www.londonmet.ac.uk
Wed 23 Jan 12pm – 5pm Mapping online – tools and concepts
A one day workshop on Urban cartography and web based software as a mapping and communication tool. The subject will be discussed in relation to existing case studies. public works will introduce their proposal for the Folkstone Triennial 2008. With City Mine(d) and Dorian Moore.
Wed 23 Jan 6pm Presentations and Round-Table Discussion on “relational mapping instruments” with City Mine(d), Christian Nold and others to be confirmed, for Fanzine 5.
Sat 26 Jan 2pm – 4pm Making Space Round-Table Discussion
Using public works’ Granville Cube project as a point of departure, the round-table will introduce and discuss ways of representing autonomous areas and objects within public spaces. With Anna Mansfield, Alex Warnock-Smith, Polly Brannan and others to be confirmed.
Tue 29 Jan 12pm – 6pm Showing the Participatory Process
A one day work session with Peter Arlt mapping ‘Platzfinden’, the participatory process and project that lead to a new public space in Linz, Austria in 2006.
Wed 6 Feb 6pm Dispersed Cultural Spaces and Research
Presentations and round-table discussion exploring ideas of dispersed spaces for research in relation to the proposed Centre for Useless Splendour at Kingston University. With Elizabeth Price (Artist and Reader in Fine Art at Kingston University), Markus Miessen (Architect, European Kunsthalle) and others to be confirmed.
Spring 2008 Launch and Presentation of Can you show me the space Publication, compiling the five fanzines produced during the programme at the Stanley Picker Gallery. Date and venue to be announced.