SCOPIO ABOVEGROUND: TERRITORY
In Cell Block, Egospheres, Self-containers, Peter Sloterdijk describes an idea of “connected isolations” on contemporary cities, where the notion of “public” no longer exists. The accumulation of personal and immediate consumption goods, daily personal routines, intimate desires, coexist in an inoculated space: the egosphere, the apartment. This basic one-cell unit becomes the atomic element of a larger, modular building constructing a contemporary built society. Its occupant falls easily into the illusion of self-sustainability, only interrupted by the noise – visual and audible – or failures in the life-support system, thus breaking the illusion of being immunised against problems, influences and external agents.
While photographing for one of my first series, always on Sundays, I noticed that most of the living city areas were packed with parked cars, in front of silent housing blocks, closed to the outside but not necessarily uninhabited. The architectural elements that allow communication with the exterior – windows mostly – become mere ornaments or “noise” channels.
During one of those walks, I was interrupted by a phone call from a friend. Halfway through the conversation, I asked him: “where is everyone, what are they doing?” He promptly replied: “They're probably too busy assembling IKEA furniture.”
Technical notes
This work was technically shot to mimic contemporary architectural photography style in order to make it more “believable” or “plausible”, despite its implicit digital manipulation. All ten images are meant to be displayed closely, side by side, aligned by its base, forming a skyline that could go on forever but retaining individuality when watched at a close distance.
All images are untitled but numbered: Untitled #08 (Billy), for example.
Inkjet prints on fineart paper, 70.00cm x 46.70cm.
Contact
jose.cduarte@gmail.com