"Monument" (2011)

A collaborative work with Edith Poirier and Leah Corra Messersmith. Born out of a workshop with Nomeda & Gediminas Urbonas at NABA where we were asked to work within the neighbourhood Ticinese in Milano. We were confronted with the idea of public sculptures which relates to collective memories of neighbourhoods.

We decided to create a temporary monument for Milano. Sunglasses representing so many things, the fashion and consumer culture of the city, social barriers, and then litterally the tons of people wearing sunglasses, and the street vendors selling this specific type of colourful sunglasses. The process of us carrying the structure from NABA towards Piazza 24 Maggio, was apart of the artwork. It turned out 2 people carrying one arm, the other arm by another 2, and 3 people carrying the big frame. We had to walk from Via Darwin all the way through Corso San Gottardo (which is quite a busy street) all the way to the piazza. The procession that lead to the assembly seemed so official and in contrast to the temporary materials we used. Thanks to Carlo Spiga, Jessica Rucinque, ZackWood and Mitch Wood for helping us carrying it and assembling it in the piazza. And thanks to Edith and Leah for the collaboration.