1967-1974, New Babylon
paper architecture
Constant. (1967) Cross section for Large Yellow Sector © Collection Fondation Constant, Amsterdam.
Constant. (1974)New Babylon Theory Collage No.8 ©Collection Gemeentemusem Den Haag, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Constant. New Babylon (2015) [Exhibition]. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid. October 21, 2015 – February 29, 2016
1829
Plan d’un Phalanstère, Charles Fourier
Charles Fourier. (1829) Plan d’un Phalanstère.
Charles Fourier: Utopian Socialist
1899 – 1969 – 2011, Paris, 18e arr.
Monument à Charles Fourier
Monument à Charles Fourier. Paris, 18e arr., boulevard de Clichy (Seine)
The Plinth Remains.
1957
The Ideological Abuse Hidden in The Decorative Display of What-Goes-Without-Saying
Roland Barthes. (1957) Mythologies. Paris: Du Seuil.
‘The starting point of these reflections was usually a feeling of impatience at the sight of the ‘naturalness’ with which newspapers, art and common sense constantly dress up a reality which, even though it is the one we live in, is undoubtedly determined by history. In short, in the account given of our contemporary circumstances, I resented seeing Nature and History confused at every turn, and I wanted to track down, in the decorative display of what-goes-without-saying, the ideological abuse which, in my view, is hidden there.’ (Barthes, 1991)
Read MoreNovember 1971, Dutch TV
The Real Political Task in Our Contemporary Society
Michel Foucault. (1971) Menselijke Natuur En Ideale Maatschappij (‘Human Nature and Ideal Society’). [TV Broadcast] Nederlandse Omroep Stichting.
‘It seems to me that the real political task in a society such as ours is to criticize the workings of institutions, which appear to be both neutral and independent; to criticize and attack them in such a manner that the political violence which has always exercised itself obscurely through them will be unmasked, so that one can fight against them.’ (Chomsky and Foucault, 2006)
Read MoreJune 1957, Cosio d’Arroscia
Platform of a Provisional Opposition [Plate-forme d’une opposition provisoire]
Guy-Ernest Debord. (1957) Rapport sur la construction des situations et sur les conditions de l’organisation et de l’action de la tendance situationniste internationale. Cosio d’Arroscia.
‘Next, we need to remember that if every truly experimental attitude is useful, nevertheless the excessive use of this word has very often served as justification for an artistic act within a current structure, i.e., one discovered previously by others. The only valid experimental approach is one based on the uncompromising critique of existing conditions and their conscious supersession. Once and for all, it must be stated that we will not dignify with the term creation what is merely personal expression within the limits of means set up by others. Creation is not the arrangement of objects and forms, but the invention of new laws for such an arrangement.’ (McDonough, 2002)
[Ensuite, il faut rappeler que si toute attitude réellement expérimentale est utilisable, l’emploi abusif de ce mot a très souvent tenté de justifier une action artistique dans une structure actuelle, c’est-à-dire trouvée auparavant par d’autres. La seule démarche expérimentale valable se fonde sur la critique exacte des conditions existantes, et leur dépassement délibéré. Il faut signifier une fois pour toutes que l’on ne saurait appeler création ce qui n’est qu’expression personnelle dans le cadre de moyens créés par d’autres. La création n’est pas l’arrangement des objets et des formes, c’est l’invention de nouvelles lois sur cet arrangement.] (Debord, 1957)
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