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NAOMI BUENO DE MESQUITA

Role:
CARTOGRAPHER
Phenomenon:
CHOREOGRAPHY, PERFORMERS
Strategy:
negotiate

negotiate

location:
OLD TOWN SQUARE
medium:
video

date:
28.06.15
time:
10:56

 

 

Six mapping sessions were organised in which my aim was to collectively map the dynamic use and performances of the old town square. Participants were asked to use an application for a mobile phone that is designed for this purpose. The tool in this app has several brushes incorporated, which is the legend of the map. Each brush represents a performer in public space. It was collectively decided upon what performers were interesting to trace for that moment of the day. The cartographic exploration consists of following people of a certain category for 15 minutes. That is, walking behind the person as close as possible with which each cartographer is able to leave a trace of the person on the digital map, a map that is collectively constructed over time. The longer the cartographer stands still, the thicker the line on the map becomes, allowing the more dynamic aspect of velocity and time to be visualised. While doing this, the cartographer makes pictures of moments or spaces of friction (where different realities meet/conflict).

 

I explore the potentials of this method (a very direct way of mapping) in which the mobile phone is used as ethnographic mapping device which allows the researcher to stand closer to his/her subject without having the feeling of invading the other persons space. On the other hand does it explore the performative (or even theatrical) aspects of this embodied way of mapping. The act of following (which is performed by different participants simultaneously) in a confined public space, makes the cartographers act together in a performance. Understanding public space as a stage and the question who ‘the public’ is will be explored and discussed. In these videos the performer to follow was a pigeon.