OBJECTIVES

 To choose a site, select some instruments and the method useful to memorize it and draw out its spatial and plastic qualities
 To develop the art of observation, of visiting and, generally, getting through the places.

COMPETENCES

 To find one’s own resources to get into relationship with a place
 To become confident with one’s own inner skills (already present in oneself)
 To find out the origin of a project initiative in the relationship subject/site
 To recognize oneself as the main cultural and sensitive instrument of an incoming action. Embark in this action as in an obvious process.

MATERIALS

 A cloth or a plastic layer to protect the tables used for working
 A plastic bag or shopper to pick up the materials from the ground
 Tongs or pliers
 Glue, stapler, strings

DEVELOPMENT

1-day experiment

Morning- 9:30-1:00 pm : experience on the site chosen for picking up and collecting (1 and 2)

Afternoon- 2:00-5:30 pm : construction, expression, exposition (3,4,5, and 6)

 1. To be fully immersed in the site, that is ‘soak it up’ by employing all the skills at their utmost along with the sensations leaving out all forms of interpretation. To forget time and be aware of the space.

 2. To gather the different elements (kind of ‘poetical objects’) according to the sensations felt.

 3. To assemble the collected materials in order to organize the sensations felt (recalling through the sensitive memory). Setting them in a tangible way.

 4. To elaborate conscious sequences leading to the development of the work. Unity/part. Making up.

 5. The realized compositions must be based on the respect of the source and not on its likeness (to sacrifice figuration to the advantage of abstraction).

 6. Exposition of the works created. Comments and appreciation of alternative performances. Possible opening to artistic developments and projects.

Note : avoid using a white paper as basis because it may wrongly justify the work and fix it into a two-dimension creation (like a picture). The aim is trying to express a three-dimension space pertaining to all senses. The work is carried out on tables with the participants standing and moving around them in order to get a whole view of their creation.

EVALUATION

It will rest on the ability to :

 Experiment the mode of free-moving outdoors as an artistic means to question the natural world by getting into it and transforming it
 Express one’s feelings through a collection of objects picked up on the site
 Express one’s feelings through one’s own sensations as well as the others’
 The trainer/teacher will lead the experience all through the day enhancing moments of self-evaluation and appreciation of the development of the ability to transmit sensations through the work
 The trainees should be able to present each other’s work and show their ability to interpret the sensations spread by each work so much as the author of the work should be able to convey his/her feelings.

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Véronique Laulier Ecole Nationale Supérieure du paysage de Versailles, partenaire de l’ Association Paysage et Patrimoine sans Frontière