Re: Proposal for Statue(s) at City Hall
The chief challenge of this project would be to find a special alloy of plastics — microscopic networks of fibres that promote the maximum adherence to any passing airborne or physically transported substance. In this plastic medium the form is created — of human beings in the motions of city living — going to work, briefcases, love affairs … general urban, complacent normalcy. Artistically speaking, these figures are in perfect representational form; however, in the flesh of the people — where a traditional sculptor would use smooth, "organic", flesh-like finishes — are cut a gridwork of subtle one-centimetre squares. The space between these "tiles" allows a further adherence to passing material.
Essentially, the statues of humanity in the urban setting are magnets and traps for every environmental presence — help or hazard — that surrounds them: ash and tar from smog, nicotine from the nearby art school, soot from automobile exhaust. In addition to these synthetic compounds: pigeon shit, sweat and candy from children's curious hands, vomit at the base from the previous night's activities.
What a thing to raise on a plinth! A celebration of the very real elements of our surroundings: these dripping, oozing maleabilities.
By Kenneth (citizen)
