occupation

In group, we asked to make an installation. The installation is called student accommodation. In simple words, we made a home for homeless. Considering the feeling of 'private' in a public space, we try to create a 'more private' and comfortable home for them. We considered the weather, the feeling and also the circulation.

We also realise that there is no line between public space and private space. Where the public space can be a private space, on the other hand the private space also consid-ers as a public space.

In this context we can say the homeless home as both private and public space depend on how we look at the object. It places on the street that more public, but it is also a home that can protect and give more private.

left:the private space in the public space

Shrine of Remembrance

Completed 1934, Forecourt 1954, Visitor Centre 2003; 2003 Architecs Philip Hudson and James Wardrop (original); Ashton Raggatt McDougall (ARM) (Visitor Centre)

The first project of the semester is an action, asking you to create an encounter, an experience with oth-ers. The purpose is to develop and test different strategies to encounter others. Observing how people act and inter-act with others in the public space.

In the first week, we asked to talk to stranger while we go to one des-tination. Pretending as a tourist who is offer guided tours. My destination is Shrine of Remembrance.

The second project was lying on the Swanton St. This task is also about exploring the public. How they react if certain unfamiliar things happens. This task also asked us to consider about the line between public space and private space.

left top:the ceremony that I attended when I visited Shrine of RemembranceMarch 2010

left:the task that I did before to explore people reactions in the public space.

encounter

installation

The interesting part of this project for me is because we used the ma-terials that were already on there. Then we created a new space by put the eyeball and the hand on. It was fun to bring the big eyeball and hand everywhere around and looked at random object to put that on. But more than just fun, the size also attracts people. Following the journey around the city, the hand became arrow that showed the path of the journey.

Each of us also brought black um-brella. We played around with the umbrella made a dome and instal-lation.

From this task, I realise that there is a connection between people and the space. How they built the space. How the umbrellas that we combine together became a space.

left:the spaces and the new artworks that we created.

occupation

Another project that we did in the public space to explore the pub-lic. Considering about how impor-tant signs mean in a public space. How sign control people. How the sign itself may successful or unsuc-cessful. How with the sign, the site can become more private. Sign also speak about the space. For example, by put the sign of under surveil-lance, it tells people that the site is under control. That also tell people that they have to be more careful and responsible about what they are doing in that space.

'1000' curious cats

'1000 curious cats' is a project based on people's curiosity. By spread the origami cats with the link to 'facebook' group account, we explore about people curiosity. How some people add the group but did not leave a comment, while some of them told the detail how they find the origami cats.People are curious because it is their nature, but they are careful about stranger. They will put them-selves in certain amount of risk, but not too much. And the measurement of the risk itself may different for different people.

left:Facebook group of people who are curious.They make comment or add the group

installation

journey through brunswick

'psychogeographique'

The last set project of the semester is an exercise where we asked to undertake a journey through Brunswick.

How I follow my senses and memories to navigate myself. I did not realise at the first time that I changed the inter-est. As generally, people are more into visual than touch, smell, or sound. But, I follow sound and smell. I listened to the sound of birds and people while I walked on the street. Then, I ended my journey at one point. I followed the smell of the fresh leaves and flowers.

The reason why I chose this site is may relate back to my own memories while I spent together with my family when I was a child. The familiar smells of nature that I always like when we did outing every week.

To explore the site in more detail, I used the sense of touch by rubbing the materials, the brick, street, wall, wood, etc.

left:the map that I made through the journey.

What did you discover about public space?

From the precious activities in the public space, I discovered that there is a connection between the people in the public that occupy the space. How they relate to the memories of the space and how it comforts them. People in public space are connected to memories of how they behave as a person. The reaction of the public reflects about themselves in their life evoking them to want to play the games with the children in the streets. When we were playing the games in Footscray, grew a connection and bond of friendship with our group. This is comforting as a project because we did it together. And then I learned as a person to build a strong communication with the people I work with. We found it was easier to start conversations to each other by applying the game of lava on the ground, standing on the shadows and not standing on the light because it is lava.

What did you discovered about People in public space?

In the public space people are usually too self-conscious to notice there surroundings and are more cautious. But they are curious because it is in their nature. They will put themselves at risk in certain circumstances, but only if they feel safe and they would reveal more about themselves to the public. In the project '1000 curious cats', people found the folded origami cats with the 'facebook' group website in random places. Then they added the link. Some of the public added the group, even though they did not write any comment on the wall. They were curious about what the site was about and some of them took part in commenting on the page. The public usually are not aware of the small changes of the surrounding like the details of a small origami cats. The public people that don't notice the details like the small origami cats are too self-conscious and busy with their life.

What did you discovered about yourself?

In the public space, I felt comfortable with familiar things. The memories of my child-hood affect my behaviour and sense. Even though I forgot the details of my memories as I grew up, my sense always direct me to the things I like. For example, when I did the journey in Brunswick, at first I followed my sight to decide my journey. I change my sense to sound following the birds and then I change my sense to smell. The smell of the fresh leaves and flower took me on the path to spend time in col-lecting and engaging with the site. I tried to get more familiar with the site by doing rubbings with the sense of touch by drawings. When I was younger my parents took me on outings once a week, spending the weekend together. After lunch I usually sit and play around with my siblings in the parks. We would usually collect materials to create games like pretend cooking and bird nest. My discoveries of my memories and sense are a strong tool I used in everyday life.

3 discoveries