SCYAPROJECT

Proposal for Art in Odd Places 2011 (Theme: Ritual) – Jacquelyn Soo

Project Title: Circling Square

Project Description: The performance touches on the politics of space and history in 14th Street. It would be like a drawing of a visual journey of the cityscape. We would explore what it means to in today’s context on the areas of sacrifice or cremation, burial or disposal environments and explore the natural, the man-made, the cultural, psychological aspects of earth with man.

Preferred Location: Ending either at Stuyvesant Sq or Pier 54 or East River, preferably with a walk starting from Union Square Park.

Time and Duration: 7th & 8th October, 5pm – 7pm

Project Proposal:

In my work, I deal with cultural identities and engagement on the community level; discovering potential and creativity with the local community to create, re-invent, to initiate discussions and progression of development in their thinking and attitude towards urban living.

I am constantly seeking ways to connect with the community where I am able to interact on a personal level with the locals and to communicate on a day to day basis of everyday living; concerns of their situation and importantly to give back what I have learned and absorbed during my time in any residency.

I am motivated by the sincerity of people, of the human connection, the touch of another human being and the feelings we have inside of all of us which makes us a human being despite our cool exterior that we portray. I believe I have the right recipe of communication, sincerity, patience and understanding of human emotions to work in the level of community art.

In this project, I would like to discuss about the politics of space and history in a specific area. It would be like a drawing of a visual journey of the cityscape in the memory of the country’s urban planning and historical culture. We would explore untouched spaces and areas of sacrifice or cremation, burial or disposal environments and explore the natural, the man-made, the cultural, psychological aspects of earth with man.

For the performance & installation, I will use textile to conceal/cover, carry/transport, unearth sentiments of earth in NYC. I will drag these rocks and concrete and install them in another area to reconstruct a model as though they are specimens of new construction buildings and plans for redevelopment in the area.

The area of redevelopment is of concern to me as I seek to understand and give insight to the constant lost of identity/culture which have been mis-looked at amidst the struggle with modernism, globalization and national progression.