Installations...successful or not?

I just visited our site. I must say this up front. I have been drinking whiskey. With that being said, we pissed somebody off. Hell yes. We accomplished something. Some people may say that our installation was unsuccessful because it was torn down within 24 hours. I see this differently. We were able to upset people extremely with a few pieces of bamboo, some twigs, string, and a tarp. We were able to strike emotions out of someone to the point where they felt threatened. They must have feared something. I don’t know what this was. However, I can imagine it may have been many things. The first idea that comes to mind is they were afraid somebody might use the structure we built. Maybe people were using the structure and they didn’t like the people using it. Maybe they were afraid other people would see this as an idea and use it to construct their own lives. One of the last ideas and most important, I hope people started to use it and they were scared that this structure would become an informal apartment complex.

It doesn’t matter what their reason was because two classmates and I were able to erect a structure that demanded a response within 24 hours. If you have traveled to India, then you’ll understand what an accomplishment this was. We must have really pissed somebody off and we didn’t get in any trouble. In a way, I was more excited that somebody took the time and effort to tear it down because that demonstrates somebody was observing my work. Whether they appreciate it or not is irrelevant. They made sure it was torn down and that tells me it was very important to them.

I feel like I have visited another country and brought issues to their front door with the help of my peers. Together we said, “Here it is, you’re welcome!” As a student, I feel that I have accomplished so much more than I could have anticipated. We built an installation that affected someone’s life in such a way that it became their number one priority to tear it down so no one else could see our work. I pat myself on the back for pissing someone off this much with a few sticks and string.

We could imagine putting this someplace where someone may have the chance to use it, but, I am confident these self-builders don’t need my help to construct a place for themselves. I do feel confident that I irritated the “Mainstream” and maybe someone will recognize the potential that every wasted space can be transformed into a living space. In a city that obsesses about the importance and value of space, they sure do overlook many possibilities.

I felt it was important to write this as soon as I got home while it was still fresh in my mind. Keep in mind that I have had too many drinks and the rhythm may be off. I am not going to correct or edit what I write because these are my thoughts the way they came to me. Well, I’m tired and I am going to bed.