Architectural study for generated sculptural structures consisting of their own shadow.
Published in: KARLSRUHER IKONOTOPE 1992-2002
Staatliche Hochschule fuer Gestaltung Karlsruhe
ISBN 3-88375-747-0
This study in its original conzept was done during a seminar called '1001 spaces of encounter' with Prof. Daniel Libeskind at the HfG/ZKM in Karlsruhe.
Concept
The central concept of Temporary Space is based on the inherent notion of time as eternal process defined in relation to space. The object's design is derived from its location in relation to the position of the sun, consisting of its own shadow on a specific moment in time, at a specific place.
In the attempt to conceptualize the very nature of time, the conceptual focus is directed towards a representation of 'eternity' in the Platonic tradition. The formal metaphor of the design is based on the Moebius strip, due to its cyclical visual properties and to its non-determinable mathematical surface-area. The inherent properties of the object's position in combination to the sun generates a unique 'temporary space', consisting of its on shadows, for a specific time and a specific place in the universe.
Trade Center Memorial Competition (2003)
This project transforms the attacks on 9/11/2001 and 02/26/1993 into a time space narrative "performed" by a series of 5 sculptures (referring to the above mentioned attacks).
Timeline
"On February 26, 1993, at 12:18 p.m., a terrorist truck bomb exploded on the B-2 level of the World Trade Center, killing six people and injuring thousands." "One airplane was flown into the 80th floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m." "The second airplane was flown into the 78th through the 84th floors of the south tower at 9:03." flown into the southwestern "wedge" of the United States Department of Defense, at 9:38 a.m. "A fourth airplane traveling from Newark to San Francisco was hijacked and, after turning east from its westerly course across Pennsylvania and Ohio, crashed in rural Somerset County, Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m. "
Approaching the 25 feet high solid steel sculptures the observer experiences a perspective complexity. Depending on where the observer looks onto the sculptures (e.g. going down the ramp) their impression changes drastically. This happens based in the fact that the sculptures" shape was generated by the sun.
According to the specific position of the sun every year on 9/11/2001, 8:46 am, 9:03 am, 9.38 am and 10:03 am and on the 02/26/1993 when the differen terrorist attacks happend sculptures doesn't cast any shadows. Depending on seasons this effect repeats every day in a similar way.
In that specific moment the rays of light are exactly parallel to the Time Sculpture (Fig 2). Turning in a South West direction crosslight reveals historical events and stories, embossed into the south side of each sculpture. In this light condition the typography appears very visible. Later on the visibility of these texts decreases according to the position of the sun. With this method it is possible to create a narrative for the very moment (Fig. 5).
The observer participates in a cyclical event of memory and erasure, which is expressed in a sculptural time-space narrative.
Special thanks to: Andreas Voigt
