SENSATIONAL WORKSHOP DIARY: THE STORY OF THE LOVE BOX
TUTORS: Katarina Luketina (CRO) / Antun Sevsek (CRO) > KA
PARTICIPANTS: Lukas Brom (CZ) / Adam Gebrian (CZ) / Stepan Tlaskal (CZ) > LAS
DURATION: 26.07. 2004 / 08.08. 2004
JULY 26 / 2004
/Extract from the brief at the workshop presentation >>>
We would use the spatial and human infrastructure of the EASA as a giant Petri dish.
A micro ecology as a sample of a larger whole.
A confined and densely inhabited space such as la Condition Publique would give us an unique insight into the relationship
of a possible physical environment with the behavior of its users.
/LAS agree to participate in the workshop.
/AS: God bless you!
/KL: Don't say things like that!
JULY 27 / 2004
/LAS: As it is la Condition Publique is divided into a series of mono-functional zones: sleeping, eating, working.
So why don't we create series of interventions that would disturb this uniformity?
/KA: Hmm... what an opening... where is this going?
/AG: One hour hotel !!!
/LAS: Let's make a space of intimacy in the middle of the EASA crowd.
It could be a place for couples?
/KA: A bit too literal... but let's try it!
/LAS: So we build it immediately!
/KA: !!!???
Where should we put it?
The main hall?
/EASA: No!
/KA: Shall we use the garden?
JULY 28 / 2004
LAS studied the site carefully and decided to build a double height space corresponding to the nearby tree and open sky.
KA started the painful process of negotiating to obtain the slightest amount of material.
It is not so easy if you are part of a workshop that according to the internet and EASA booklet doesn't even exist.
The day is spent by setting up an object.
Everybody thinks is another sleeping container and therefore something that could easily be used for someone else's house.
JULY 29 / 2004
The day our newly christened LOVE BOX was supposed to be finished.
The BOX is becoming enclosed with meters of white fabric.
KA are astonished with the LAS perfectionism.
After a day of negotiating KA are forced to 'borrow' the remaining materials needed for the BOX.
L is preparing the posters while KA are finishing the bed.
A welcome flash of understanding with the service public as they install a couple of pink lights.
We are not finished but the word of what we are doing is slowly spreading.
JULY 30 / 2004
The morning brought with it the first contact with inevitable fate of our installation.
It was already dirty and needed repairs.
The carpet on the ramp was revealed in it's clean and appealing pinkness.
We sprayed SHOES OFF hoping it would encourage people to keep the BOX clean.
The posters and flyers are all around the EASA.
The garden is full of people doing graffiti and the walls surrounding it are slowly being removed.
All of a sudden the LOVE BOX is completely integrated with the most intensely used space of the EASA.
JULY 31 / 2004
Another morning after in terms of cleaning.
We now recognize two pairs of shoes at the bottom of the ramp as a clear sign of the BOX being used.
It is a sign apparently respected by the majority of people.
We now have serious doubts about it being used in the way we intended it to be or if it offers enough security in order to be used as an intimate space.
After a brief discussion LAS propose to introduce a curtain that would close the garden off from the lounge space, adding another layer of intimacy.
Improving the use of the LOVE BOX.
AUGUST 1 / 2004
Day off.
The entire site is closed from 12 to 20 pm.
No apparent misuses of our installation.
AUGUST 2 / 2004
Probably the third attempt of getting a camera installed around the BOX.
We thought it would influence the way it was used, making people self-conscious.
With another flash of brilliance LAS proposed lifting the sides of the box introducing a double regime of use.
The curtain opened and the walls lifted during the day.
The curtain moved and the BOX closed during the night.
As any responsible tutors KA spend the day sunbathing in Dunkerque.
AUGUST 3 / 2004
The bed is dirty again.
LAS neglect their duties and go to
Another attempt of getting a camera.
We are happy to observe the LOVE BOX being used for sleeping during the day.
The ex-yu national evening brings with it the most violent abuse of our modernist cube: part of the envelope is torn.
AUGUST 4 / 2004
KA participate in the tutor meeting dealing with the final presentation.
We decided to present our installation in its place in the garden as the result of our workshop.
Most extensive cleaning so far.
We now have only two nights worth of white fabric.
The evening edition of the Umbrella makes frequent mention of the LOVE BOX.
We are now part of this years EASA iconography.
AUGUST 5 / 2004
Rain forced us to partially dismantle our installation.
We used the bad weather for a group meeting dealing with our presentation.
We chose the diary as a form of presenting our work.
A small camera is finally installed and we are curious to see what happens.
Rain continues to fall as LB and ST try to finish the book and AS tries to put our experiences in this diary.
AUGUST 6 / 2004
Picking up the pieces of tonight’s storm.
Trying to get as much materials as possible.
We are optimistic about to be able to repair it on time for the presentation.
The book will soon be completed with users comments, pictures and this diary.
There’s also the poster and the installation itself.
AUGUST 7 / 2004
Exhibition day one.
Hope the LOVE BOX is still in one piece.
Wandering about the reaction.
AUGUST 8 / 2004
Exhibition day two.
We are leaving soon.
People hope there will be more LOVE BOXES next year in Switzerland.
The Happy End.
ANY COMMENTS?