Maria N Stukoff :: Projects

Lightsaber pattern testing

2009-10-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

Sound recording booth

2009-10-06T21:58:00.001-07:00

With the use of a feather duvet, a desk and chair we designed a makeshift sound booth to block out the rubbing noises from the air-con and people walking by the hotel room.... it worked a treat. Perfect sound.

Designing the Lightsaber performance dance

2009-10-02T04:47:00.000-07:00

Using a combination of Semaphore, traditional Thai dance moves and the
The Tokyo Light Saber Techno Ballet.

InfoMan : Structure 01

2009-09-27T05:30:00.001-07:00

Beer testing the pin suit

Team meeting @ RCA

2009-09-27T05:19:00.000-07:00

First examples of structures

2009-09-25T04:40:00.001-07:00

Bangkok Online: Interview

2009-09-21T06:09:00.000-07:00

Street Talk: Kasama Yamtree and Maria Stukoff

Last year, as part of the Change Bangkok project, the city’s residents were asked to vote for the place most in need of transformation. With dangling electric cables and chaotic bus stops, Victory Monument gained the most votes in the online poll. Here, Kasama Yamtree of local art group Apostrophy's and UK artist Maria Stukoff tell us about the challenges of changing the face of Victory Monument....

BK: What do you think of Victory Monument as a working space?

Kasama Yamtree: As Bangkokians, we think we’re quite familiar with the place. But now, we have to look more closely. We have noticed many things we missed before, like the fact that the monument is the KM 0 point in Bangkok. We think of it as the starting point of all the good changes that’ll be made to the space.
Maria Stukoff: My first impression was “Wow!” The place has many food stalls and is crowded with people. It has such different layers of culture and history that you must visit it again and again to get to know it better. For me, it’s a bit like Disneyland—well maybe a stranger version.

BK: What’s your biggest challenge?

KY: This is public art, so we have to think differently from usual architectural designs, which have a definite target audience. Public artwork is displayed for people from all walks of life, so it must be accessible to everyone—from businessmen riding the sky train to the streetside vendors.
MS: I think public art has a big role to play. It can reflect and also question the culture, as well as generate new perspectives. It allows people to be challenged and inspired by ideas.
KY: That’s why we are considering making it interactive so everyone can take part and react to it.

BK: So do you think art can really change a city?

KY: We think our role as artists is to ignite change rather than to make a big change ourselves. There’re lots of people questioning whether this is going to be a huge transformation. But what we learned from our previous public art projects is that we need to start changing now, no matter the outcome.
MS: It might not completely change the city, but it will definitely give people a moment to think about what is around them and that results in a ripple effect. People might think that the place can’t be changed, but we’ll do it anyway. That change might be small and can’t be measured immediately. That’s why it’s so frustrating being an artist!

BK: When will the transformation be completed?

MS: We will finish the designs by the end of this month, and the final artwork will be revealed during the Bangkok Design Festival 2009.

Transforming Public Place: Document Video

2009-09-17T05:48:00.000-07:00

Creative Cities: Økm

2009-09-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

After yet another intensive brainstorming session and reviewing all the various partners and themes involved in this project (i.e. The British Council, Change Bangkok, Transforming Public Places, Bangkok Design Week, the Victory Monument, BMA, BTS, Thai Military Bank...) and the multiplicity of events being launched in conjunction with our event - we have finally settled on a title for this work.

Creative Cities : Økm

Historically, Victory Monument was considered to be the centre of the city and was used by people coming in from the outer regions of Bangkok to help direct them to the North, South, East and West of the city. Thus, Victory Monument was used as a zero marker for all distances measured out from the city centre. Økm is the starting point for this first large public art initiative in Bangkok and the staring point of two other projects looking to engage with communities and issues around urban design and regeneration. One of these projects is FaiFah (meaning Electric City). This is sponsored by a local Bank (TMB) to provide a creative space or hub for communities based in their jurisdiction.

We have been invited to run their first workshop about the environment, public art and urban design with kids aged 9-15 from those communities. The artwork created by this workshop will also be shown during the opening ceremony of Creative Cities at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. The exhibition will be opened by the Duke of York ;)

59 Pins @ VM

2009-09-16T07:40:00.001-07:00

59 performers circle the Victory Monument @ 6pm

59 Pins = 59 Soldiers @ VM

2009-09-16T07:21:00.000-07:00

Formation of 59 performers with mega phones and interactive neon lights.

The performers are representative of the fallen soldiers to whom Victory Monument is dedicated. At 6pm a core group will sing the Thai National Anthem through a mega phone to attract people's attention. This normally happens through an automated speaker-phone placed throughout public places in Bangkok. During this sound projection, people walking normally stop in respect of the King and in salute of Thailand. However, there are no National Anthem systems @ Victory Monument. Our aim is to create a peaceful moment inside the normally chaotic movement of commuters at this site. As part of the event, each performer carries an interactive light, which is programmed to display a "light dance" as the night sets in.

Formation of 59 pins

Choreography of the performers with lights

Suggested sites for the event. Around the Monument or on the skywalk.

Victory Point - Exhibition Space @VM

2009-09-16T06:35:00.000-07:00

After much negotiation with the BMA (Bangkok Metropolitan Administration) permission was finally granted for installing the Creative Cities public artwork. The area allocated to us however is Victory Point, the busiest plaza at Victory Monument. From the late afternoon onwards, Victory Point hosts a crowded flea market and our work has to sit somewhere within this chaos! Out initial brief was to consider the whole of Victory Monument - so at 3 weeks before the exhibition launch we have to rethink the entire installation of 15 systems...

The main entrance to Victory Point.

Minimal spaces in front of stalls.

Spaces we are installing numerous systems.

At night more food vendors come to this site.
So there will be even less space for our installations.

Harness Water :: Design Prototype

2009-09-16T06:10:00.000-07:00

Water system allows people to take stored water via a tap.
This system will be also connected to plant boxes needing water.

Prototyping using plastic bottles. Its all about recycling locally found materials.

Media Systems: LED, Monitors, Sensors....

2009-09-16T06:03:00.000-07:00

Media harness for project guides.

Mirrors and projection screen set up for video game.

Wrap around information for how to use each system.

Pin Development: Material Design

2009-09-16T05:43:00.001-07:00

Having tested a variety of materials including bamboo, wood, steel and plastic sheeting we decided to design our installation with plastic pipes. The blue pipe is synonymous with Thai building sites and can be seem everywhere around the city. This pipe that can be easily obtained by people to replica some of the deigns featured in the exhibition, for example in ways to harness water to cleaning or for watering plants.

Basic trolley structure with wheels for mobility around the site and for installation.
Media system and recycle bins will be placed inside this cube.

Pipes can be interconnected for designing different structures.

Media wall to explain the history of Victory Monument and the Creative Cities project.

People harness using pipes.

Food for thought

2009-09-16T05:40:00.000-07:00

Team feast at midnight!

Up and Running

2009-09-16T05:33:00.000-07:00

Ploy, chief architect and urban designer weighed down by too many ideas!

Designing systems to respond to environment

2009-09-15T04:21:00.000-07:00

Moveable boxes for easy installation @ Victory Point

Naming each PIN. One pin = 1 Soldier.

2009-09-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

Some of the things the team have been talking about:

Temporary public art we have been describing as a creative engagement with the passing pubic, a way to change people's everyday habits. Public art can be playful and offer new ideas on how people use and take ownership of public space and the environment around them. The VM artwork aims to involve people in an 'action' and act as the catalyst to influence the way the artwork progresses. We aim to give people the scope for experiencing a pubic place where their actions, participation and input to public spaces matters not just in the short term but also for the future.

The artwork's temporarily can instantly be used by visitors and travellers, moving through Victory Monument. It is a space for action, for play, extending creativity into city spaces and providing a public space open for new activities.

Pin Location Map proposing to BMA

2009-09-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

all 59 pins on 16 points

Prototype: Pin System

2009-09-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

See if it works! The box is something intended to keep the computer systems. Trying put the sysmtems into the pipe too and cound the systems as pins too.

Pin System Development

2009-09-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

Note: Keep all the systems related to the pins. The design will be informed by the pin location.

Pipe types that can be found or bought from normal hardward stores

Water host (diameter)
2" ( biggest (generally) ) = 60 baht (per meter)
1 1/2" = 45 baht
1" = 22 baht

PVC ( blue )
4" ( 4 meters ) = 335 baht, 560 baht
3" = 210 baht, 360 baht
2" = 100 baht , 160 baht
1 1/2" = 70 baht, 105 baht
1 1/4" = 60 baht, 80 baht
1" = 95 baht
3/4" = 58 baht
1/2" = 48 baht

Pin design structure

Pins, Pipes and Tube installation

2009-09-14T08:01:00.000-07:00

Pin designs for joining main pipes together

Ergo - On-the-Go Air Quality Readings delivered to your mobile device

2009-09-14T07:58:00.001-07:00

Urban Atmospheres new research effort into Participatory Urbanism explores a people centric view of measuring, sharing, and discussing our environment and air quality using mobile devices such as your personal mobile phone with various air quality sensors attached.

Ergo - On-the-Go Air Quality Readings delivered to your mobile device

2009-09-14T07:58:00.000-07:00

Air Quality Index (AQI)

2009-09-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

Each category corresponds to a different level of health concern. The six levels of health concern and what they mean are: (from this URL)

"Good" AQI is 0 - 50. Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
"Moderate" AQI is 51 - 100. Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. For example, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms.
"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" AQI is 101 - 150. Although general public is not likely to be affected at this AQI range, people with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.
"Unhealthy" AQI is 151 - 200. Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.
"Very Unhealthy" AQI is 201 - 300. This would trigger a health alert signifying that everyone may experience more serious health effects.
"Hazardous" AQI greater than 300. This would trigger a health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.

Harvesting water - Watering Plants

2009-09-14T07:55:00.001-07:00

Skywalk pins with pipe

2009-09-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

Draft design only...
This will give some ideas to how I see the pipes/pins being installed on the skywalk railings.

Some pointing outwards away from the centre walk - some running along the concrete ceiling. I would see them more uniform along the walkway but maybe some closer together like the soldiers marching together....

tall ones and little ones

pointing outwards

PIN structure for skywalk

2009-09-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

From Ploy:
Illustration of the the materials and structures we talked about....

Material: Clear Pipes and Hose

2009-09-14T07:46:00.000-07:00

Clear PVC Pipe

PVC Pipe
good way to attach tap as well as different angles...

--------------------------------------------------------------

Prototyping : Tube Design

2009-09-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

Pulling together the tubes with bottles. The bottles are cut open to collect rain. This gets filtered through a colour dyes before being recycled. This water can be reused for cleaning the streets for example.

Prototyping : Bottles and Plastic Tubes

2009-09-14T06:05:00.001-07:00

The installation of these pipes will decide how well we can group this together in space. Thinking about chemistry test tube set up!

Soda bottles and plastic tube.... Experiment 01 by team!

structure proposal

Harness Water :: Design Elements

2009-09-14T06:01:00.001-07:00

Design idea: The left bottle is like water capturing device joined with a pipe! (Ploy)

http://www.nickyloftis.com/

Design Meeting: Thursday 14th April 2009

2009-09-14T05:52:00.000-07:00

Agreed to use local materials like recycled glass bottles or tubes. Use those as water collectors to show people ways to how to recycle natural resources like rain.

Idea about different colour dye's running through pipes as it gets in contact with water water and weaving them together; Designed for harvesting water as well as store water / etc. ( see Test Tube Rack idea )

Questions from meeting:

- How do we actually capture water?
- What could be a structure?
- If it's weaving pipes, how can we do that?
- What kind of weaving techniques can we make?
- Where does the water go when it rains?
- Store and...? With a tap?
- Or use the water weight to generate power?
- Or water pressure to push down something?
(Maybe to push a button and shows different light colours based on different water levels?
Just ideas ) ( Or maybe push something else....)

- How does the sound play?
- Something needs to be programmed? Where ? How ?
- How tall is the whole structure?
- Do we want to do any testing on the water we capture?
- Like...acid rain and can only be used for......?
(Check the pregnancy testing). Just a different way of showing pullution in the air!!!!!

Actions finalized - 1st round!
- Air pollution reader ( through the old system or maybe water testing???? )
- Sound box ( at 8 am and 6 pm)
- Camera ( But where do we get power? )
- LED light ( in every Pin group)
- Smell ( Need to find ways to do it)
- Car counter and People counter
(To compare how much people use public transport or individual transport.....maybe showing Numbers....like....light counter?)
- ............
- Anything else?

Plastics and locally sourced materials

2009-09-14T05:43:00.001-07:00

Plastic tubes to create sculpture. Ways to channel rain water. We were interested in the public to see the waste of water as well as showcase ways to harness rain for cleaning.

Fluid Sculpture

steel pipes and fittings

2009-09-14T05:38:00.000-07:00

Pin design progressed to pipes... Looking at a variety of materials from steel to plastic and ways to group 59 pins into the environment.

Traffic Lights Actions

2009-05-27T00:16:00.000-07:00

Pin Diagram

2009-05-25T23:16:00.000-07:00

linked with google maps and google earth

Car free city - Returning site to people

2009-05-25T23:12:00.000-07:00

Walk, bike or sit, car-free, in Times Square and Herald Square

Calibration Pin design

2009-04-30T03:04:00.001-07:00

great design for a pin!
top bit can spin, be a speaker, be a light...
to communicate issues about the site

Re-think big installations

2009-04-30T03:01:00.000-07:00

OK just to re-think the way we design each installation.
we are telling the BMA not to have so many lightboxes everywhere
they are too close to bus stops and hide travel information (bus numbers)
they are too bright at night and waste needed people space

- So how are our installations / the pins make a better space?

I am now thinking more sound boxes (each like the voice from the soldier) and using a thin narrow pole design with something on top... lights, messages etc..... ??!

basic pin shape

but much better designed!

Displaced

2009-04-29T15:00:00.001-07:00

lovely!

Participatory public art and manic street fever

2009-04-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

Question is how to create impact that does not favour large structures already in place but looks at the little pieces that make up the site and the way the site operates.

We are very clear about several key building blocks for our design and reflection processes. We are interested in:

- the number 59, which are the numbers of soldiers for whom the monument was commissioned
- harvesting energy at the site and the use of recyclable energies
- event that brings everyone together like the 6pm National Anthem
- challenging the behaviour of people, create a more meaningful experience of and purpose for VM other than it being for transit.

We are now going through differnet design processes to merge our interest in media, architectural design, emergent technology, play and community involvement into a piece of work that can be challenging and creates inpact.

Working with Google Earth and Google Maps

2009-04-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Entering us into the googlemap/earth sites. Building a commentar on what we are developing there and the issues we are dealing with for creating a public artwork.

Thinking Pause

2009-04-18T02:01:00.000-07:00

consolidation
reflection
review
residue
flow
remains
memory
action

Panopticons

2009-04-15T04:17:00.001-07:00

four landscape artworks

Quote *

2009-04-11T23:58:00.000-07:00

Interventions are temporary intrusions in a site that seek to make alternatives evident.
(Spiegl and Teckert)

The planning and design we are aiming to employ is about the continuous motion, the energy and shifting changes and bringing these elements onto our media canvas. It's about making the public aware of the tremendous possibilities such unseen spaces - unused city spaces - for creative production.

Where @ VM

2009-04-11T10:47:00.001-07:00

As no one seems to know who to ask about using VM as our site - and talking to the military is not good timing right now during the Red Shirt demonstrations, thinking about using the traffic islands.

Raining - Water - Weather

2009-04-11T10:42:00.001-07:00

We discussed that the installation of the artwork will occur during the Monsoon season and that we will have to make sure we can install adequate rain protection to work on site as well as something that is stable to withstand the weather during this time.... and beyond!

OWNERSHIP OF SITE

2009-04-11T09:50:00.001-07:00

We are still no closer to finding out who owns VM and under whose jurisdiction it falls to approve the public artwork - especially the VM itself.

..

Ideas :: Urban Gardening Intervention

2009-04-11T05:42:00.000-07:00

I like the concept for turning concrete into a growing - organic structure.....

Link >> Ackroyd & Harvey

2009-04-11T05:35:00.000-07:00

GREEN BRICK, GREEN BACK

My initial ideas was to do investigate ideas concerned with community garden and ways for local shop keeps to grow their own produce. The site however is very hard to negotiate in this way but maybe new ways of growing vertically can be explored.

....

score & cut / pull & fold / weave

2009-04-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

Workshop Models: Team03

2009-04-09T10:00:00.001-07:00

Workshop Models: Team02

2009-04-09T09:57:00.001-07:00

Workshop Models: Team01

2009-04-09T09:54:00.001-07:00

Workshop mix

2009-04-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

Overdrive :)

Workshop team design

2009-04-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

Illustrations about creating energy through hand power.

By turning each drum people are paying respect to the fallen soldiers and the King.

Motion capture to measure when people are bowing down in prayer.

Working in teams and constructing VM

Me working hard to cut a concrete walkway out of wood.

Workshop at British Council

2009-04-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

Low tech materials was sourced from local hardware store.

Hi tech was a selection of hand-made different sensors

Worked with a great group of designers and artists today to workshop ways of intervening at VM. As part of the workshop we discussed the meaning of public art in Thai culture. Most interesting to me was that not one of the participants knew of any public art around Bangkok.

Furthermore, I had an interview with a local magazine called "GO PLAY " - all about graffiti and fashion!? They asked me questions was about how a young artist would start working in public. The main theme of the interview as about defining the difference about street art and public art. In order to learn more about the topic they stayed for the workshop...

Workshop had two components:
1) Working with a combination of low and hi tech materials to build an artwork for VM
2) Answer a set of questions about the site, its history and the impact such an artwork.

Interviewing public @ VM

2009-04-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

Video still of the interviews.
General concensus: VM is very unorganised.

Link >> Kill a Watt

2009-04-06T08:34:00.000-07:00

The Kill A Watt meter allows you to accurately measure the loads of your household appliances, electronics, power tools.

We are discussing the waste of energy or loss of energy from devices and how we can use that for alternative power systems.

Ideas :: Shading and Interactivity

2009-04-06T01:58:00.001-07:00

Quote *

2009-04-05T06:19:00.000-07:00

"If I am not able to find solutions for other peoples problems my role is to recharge them so they feel inspired to continue in what ever they do!"
(Tcha Limberger, Musician, Bruges)

Ideas :: Thoughts

2009-04-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

What are the future consequences of our artwork?

Do we understand the physical geography and the networked topology?

How does does intervention reveal itself during the 24 hour life cycle?

Can we create a movement map or flow chart?

Change public place concept to ....

2009-04-04T09:48:00.000-07:00

My eating space
My journey
My stall
My shopping corner
My experience
My VM

Changing the notion of public place to something that is more personalised. A space that engages with both the individual and the common thread of what people are doing there.

Quote *

2009-04-04T09:35:00.001-07:00

In regards to the meaning of IMPACT:

"Its better to make a beautiful mistake then to play is safe"
Sami Rintala (Finnish architect and artist)

What risks are we prepared to make as artists, designers and architects in the development of the public artwork at VM?

Tyintegnestue

2009-04-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

I was invited to join and feedback to a presentation by Norwegian Architects group Tyintegnestue who are working with Case Studio Architects to create a playground and library for the Min Buri community. This site was once a thriving market place and is over 100 years old but now in decay and in need of regeneration. The discussion led to issues concerned with community engagement and ways to involve locals in a more creative and playful manner in the building.

The involvement or showcase of locals in posters and marketing materials was seen as key to create a buzz amongst the community for seeing themselves in the images. Word of mouth marketing between locals about what is happening and being proud about the changes occurring was seen as crucial in getting acceptance and approval to work being done there.

In regards to Victory Monument we discussed how we can employ the buzz concept into our art and ways to make sure local shop keepers understand and agree with how we transform and impact on their everyday environment.

We also learnt that VM sits in a dip-like landscape and therefore regularly floods with heavy rain fall. Flooding to VM causes the entire city to stop and takes around 20-30min for clear once rain stops. I myself, have experienced this couple of years back. The idea emerged to use this in a design that would purposefully flood VM to create a "Lake of Tranquility". During our coordinated flooding, people have to slow down, relax, wait and could take time to eat while the traffic simply stops and waits for the water to subside.

Basically big IMPACT on Bangkok - controversy by creating more mayhem but it would also comment on the lack of working infrastructure in and around Bangkok for future city planning to avoid flooding and traffic jams. The effect and affect of this playful design is something we like to continue in our process.

Ideas :: Recycle

2009-03-31T22:23:00.000-07:00

As I journey through Bangkok I keep looking out for new recycling initiatives or where the public can recycle take away packaging and bottles. Found some at the Siam Center.

Link >> Doing green

2009-03-31T09:40:00.000-07:00

Check it out: GREEN THING

Press Conference: The Team

2009-03-31T09:16:00.000-07:00

Floor design

2009-03-29T23:15:00.000-07:00

Looking to convert our brainstorming design map into a floor plan for VM. Investigating commercial and industrial installations for floors found in schools or hospitals.

This is a design based on a labyrinth game to assist children explore spiritual issues. The design was laser cut and inlaid into the existing floor. Mary McMurray from Art First.

Floor design could be an interesting way to code and highlight areas in VM, which were considered chaotic and unorganised by the local people we interviewed.

Links >> Reuben Heyday Margolin

2009-03-29T07:49:00.000-07:00

Check out kinetic artist Reuben Heyday Margolinuses a variety of materials including wood and other recycled materials to create mechanical wave sculptures. Interesting video of his work can be seen on youtube.

Thinking about representing the energy experienced at VM. How could we recreate this motion?

Ideas :: Bio recycle

2009-03-29T06:55:00.001-07:00

Thinking about all the plastic bags in which both food and drinks are sold. These are found dropped on the floor and make up a vast quality of the rubbish. There are only a few bins around VM. In a surprising likeness to Manchester, VM was bombed two years ago and since then there are no bins. There are also a lack of bins around Manchester due to fears of bombing or other terrorist activity. At VM, clear plastic bags are hung up for rubbish are found mostly around the bus terminals but are hard to locate within the mayhem of the shopping spaces.

Thinking about bioplastics, something that can decompose after a period of time. Big plastic wrapping or furniture whereby the shape of the design changes due to decomposition! ;)

Links >> Cars and Speed bumps

2009-03-29T04:10:00.000-07:00

Check out these links....

Green speed bumps.
Sleeping Policeman.
Car counters.

reference thanks to Ben Jones! ;)

Strap line

2009-03-28T21:39:00.000-07:00

"Move energy with multiple activity like a dynamo driving kinetic energy."

Quote from Bier, summing up the past few days of our brainstorming.

Midnight vigil

2009-03-28T21:13:00.000-07:00

Checking the atmosphere at VM at midnight. As most shops close between 9.30-1o.oopm I was hoping that VM would less busy, quiet and maybe a chance to experience the empty space of VM. I was keen to measure the space visually to help us understand the layout. It is hard to see the different layers, steps and dips in the ground because of all the shops, tents and covers.

However, at midnight the site was light with mostly neon tubes and had a strange white glow about it. The several 7/11 shops were all still open including a variety of food vendors. The main areas of Victory Point was covered in the various goods of shop keeps still packing up. In most areas rubbish had collected up with on cleaners or rubbish collectors in sight. Some area felt a little like a ghost town - just the remains of people having been there yet the space was still lit by this strange white light.

Vox Pox

2009-03-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

Interviewing local stall keepers, shoppers, transit police, lottery sellers, students, the area coordinator, mini bus controllers, passersby, a toilet attendant and an older man waiting at the bus stop about what they like and don't like about Victory Monument.

Play on words

2009-03-27T05:12:00.000-07:00

People > Movement > Engery > Environment > Particles > Network > Connectivity >

Brainstorming the VM site

2009-03-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

Today we spent a long time discussing our experiences of VM and the site elements we highlighted during our photos shoots. Several items were both good and bad, useful and plain stupid at the same time including the use of concrete, the Masterkool fans, lack off graffiti and the lighting. The themes that reappeared, were elements such as food, the energy at the site, lighting and pollution. From there we created a map to visualise the outcomes and discussed at length what these finding could indicate for our design process.

The strap line "EVERY WHERE and EVERY TIME" emerged. We will use this to help direct the way we engage with project development. Tomorrow are are interviewing the local community based at VM including stall keepers, food sellers, bus conductors, shoppers etc. to see how they experience VM and to compare those with our findings.

Recycling, Cables, Traffic, Rubbish and UFO's.

2009-03-26T02:12:00.000-07:00

Brainstorming session today at Apostroph'S studio. Working though ideas gathered during three photo shoots of the four areas at Victory Monument at 6am, 12 noon and 9pm.

Key issues:
- Water coolers (sprays fine water mist to cool people down - not working)

- No recycling bins (found one which had general rubbish in it)
- Make shift shop covers (old plastic sheeting and umbrella materials with many gaps)
- Lighting (each area has different lighting of which many don't work, not fixed)
- Signage (no map or signs to direct people or say what is happening)
- History column (old cylindrical kiosk displaying history poster but falling apart)

- Cables and Electricity (make shift plugs and cables hanging under umbrellas and exposed)
- No bins near the food outlets.
- Different feeling and tempo in each area.
- Type of food being eaten (Is the food healthy, is it sourced locally?)

Talked about how we can intervene in the space - create signage to tell people what is there and where to get things. An events board for hanging posters for events being staged at Victory Point.

Talked about information kiosks based on the design of the original history column. The lights would employ sustainable energy such as solar panelling.

Kiosks could become an installation site in themselves - a lighting display as an event to which people come to VM specifically to see something happen (either regularly or at hourly intervals)

Sound sensitive lighting to highlight areas such as the massive collection of cables. Talked about "Encounters of the third kind" where the UFO played lights corresponding to particular tones. The possibility of showcasing the cables through interactive lights or strategically placed LED's was discussed instead of hiding them!

Ideas discussed refereeing robotics. Robotic installation controlled by mobile, by skytrain, by people movement etc....

Connecting local shop owners with Bangkok farmers or regional communities to get locally grown produce was of interest. Looking at designing new trade / shape economic development routes between provinces and the city to where the mini buses drive to and from. VM would in this sense becomes known as a community led market place.

Visual Pollution

2009-03-25T05:03:00.001-07:00

Excerpt from Philip Cornwel-Smith's book: "Very Thai, Everyday Popular Culture."

"The neglect of the streetscape has its social history. The wealthy avoid walking. It’s not just the heat; rank infers they shouldn't be seen expending effort. Their car is a bubble between private domains that limit their engagement with the masses. So Thailand doesn’t go for pedentrianisation for its own sake unless it’s for events, which fill up with markets. Culturally, public space has been regarded as an amoral domain ruled by spirits and beyond personal ownership or control – except when VIPs visit.

Multi-million Baht budgets fund monumental sculptures, mass tree slashing combined with planting that wilt a week later and vast signs that hide historic neighbourhoods branded as slums.

That monument mindset focuses on major buildings while treating the overall streetscape either as a free for all or a ridged ordered set."

Cornwel-Smith, Philip (2005) Very Thai, Everyday Popular Culture. River Book, p.65

The past : VM

2009-03-25T02:58:00.001-07:00

TEAM

2009-03-24T09:17:00.001-07:00

Here we are:

Mapping VM

2009-03-24T09:06:00.001-07:00

We realised that we had mostly concentrated on Victory Point and the concrete walk way. We were actually missing images and detailed information about the other areas around VM. Over the coming days we are creating an architectural map of all the time layers of VM - illustrating how the site is used in the morning, at lunch and at night. Each time zone has different inhabitants and street life. Once we understand the public use and daily traffic of VM we will start to dissect it to find our place within it.

Mapping our four identified areas of the round about.

First map of VM showing details what each quadrant has to offer.

Links >> Change Bangkok

2009-03-23T22:22:00.000-07:00

Change Bangkok - Transforming Public Spaces.
Small press about my work in public place! :)

Regeneration and Branding

2009-03-23T22:12:00.000-07:00

Victory Monument is based on the monument commemorating the death of Thai soldiers of a short war fought with the French during the Indo-China war. Very few people today know about out the history of this war or what the large status symbolises.

Discussion about the story of this monument and the narrative about how this place came into existence. Prior to setting up Victory Monument in 1941, the site was a rice field. This led to the focus on food and one of the main activities that occur at VM = eating! Food is a typical draw to VM as it is cheap and affordable /accessible to everyone.

Strong emphasis in discussion on access and creating an artwork that is understood by the community and variety of people who uses the space. We also talked about re-naming the site. Victory Monument is just the centre of the around about. However you cant get to VM as it sits in the middle of a traffic nightmare and is surrounded by a fence!

VM has many other activities. There is Victory Point. The main market and food stall site but no one really knows it is called Victory Point. Maybe room for re-naming specific areas to highlight the communities around VM....

Ideas :: VM the Epicentre

2009-03-23T22:01:00.000-07:00

It turns out that the round about at VM (the zero maker for measuring distances around Bangkok) also effects all other road circuits around Bangkok. If the traffic gets stuck at VM - all other traffic and roads are immediately effected.

In Buddhism this can be noted as: Effect One - Effect All.

IMPACT

2009-03-23T21:53:00.000-07:00

The key word from the commissioners.

Discussion regarding what impact means as an artwork, the various agencies concerned with VM and the people who live or work on this site. How do we measure impact based on these different agencies? Key words we have so identified important to the art team are;

Long lasting effect on the area
- The impact will not end when the artwork finishes
- Ownership off artwork transferred to the local community

Environment issues
- Recycle
- Rubbish
- Pollution
- Plants

People
- Status
- Passers-by
- Travellers
- Sellers

Regenerate
- What is the area about?
- What do people do there as main activity?
- Perspective old / new
- Unknown History / Future vision
- Branding the site

Victory Momument / Night

2009-03-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

Great atmosphere at night!

Textures on the concrete wall

Lights & projections surround VM

More textures and paint panels

Curves of the sky train above.

Lights throughout the walk way

Traffic public and motor car

Carvings in the concrete

Lighting

Lighting

Just outside the walk way (colourful) and foot lighting at Pullman Hotel

What could VM mean today?

2009-03-22T02:36:00.000-07:00

Quick notes:

For whom would a monument be built today?
Who are the victorious in today's Bangkok society?
Who would feature in a Wall of Fame?

Thinking about the type of faces one could display, like a portrait gallery.

Ideas:: Stencil Graffiti

2009-03-22T02:23:00.000-07:00

Check out work by Nico Monti who designed the front of Argentinean restaurant; Tegui. I like the lush colours and overlaying of the stencil images on the concrete backdrop.

Photo as seen in the March issue of Wallpaper.

However, this look is not maintainable and after awhile can look very neglected. Be great to work with colour in some way. Colour blocks or shapes for daytime, lighting those up for night time....

Victory Momument / Daytime

2009-03-22T01:42:00.000-07:00

First site - on site

2009-03-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

I did my first walk about at Victory Monument. Almost forgot how fabulous Victory Monument is at night with the surrounding hustle and bustle of the tiny markets. The concrete above is looming and creaking - although the sky train passing way above us can hardly be heard.... Bit of concrete missing here and there and the walk ways shoot out into every direction to cross the streets and round about beneath.

It is clear that the lighting (overall) even above and at the market stalls is very make-shift. Glare of clear light bulbs shoot into your eye with the occasional horizontal neon beam imposing a near headache. Some eating places have hang twinkly fairy-lights into the few trees around making a softer, more intimate eating and drinking space.

Tomorrow day time is the real test:
How does VM behave and the concrete jungle introduce itself in day light?

Link >> Olafur Eliasson

2009-03-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

Very interesting artist!!

Ideas:: Loyalty card

2009-03-18T16:52:00.000-07:00

For tracking purposes we could design a RFID (radio frequency identification) tag in loyalty cards for each food stall and see how people move around the space in regards to how they buy food and if they would use such a device to - buy 4 lunches get one free offer - type thing. Not sure where I am heading with this as yet.... Very popular in UK food & drink places...

Collaboration - Apostrophy's

2009-03-17T15:40:00.000-07:00

First project exchange with project collaborators: Apostrophy's via email provides some interesting food for thought:

1) About Victory Monument being the 0 marker for measuring distances across Bangkok - formerly the city center. There are so many activities going on there at the 0 mark is not relevant any longer. The pace is fast - too fast to notice anything. The place never stops.

2) Victory Monument is an area where everything passes. Like cars, sky train, buses, mini-buses, people walking on the sidewalks and sky walks. The site is used by people from everywhere! It has everything there, all kinds of food, shops, hospital, houses and a university close by. You can go there at 4 am and still find “Kao Niew Moo Ping” (grilled pork with sticky rice). Different stuff happens there at different times. The atmosphere is buzzing with pubs that play Blues bands or Jazz music makes it seem like you’re not in Thailand.

3) Victory Monument can be like a Check Point where everyone tries to own a buck and get away as soon as possible! There are people selling things on the sky walk whenever possible but only when the municipal officers are not around. People keep running off when the officers come and they have a special way of packing things up really quickly!

It’s like a place for hopes, dreams and taking advantage.

4) Food and the various smells are really prominent at VM. The way food is sold is very interesting. Shops keep changing into new shops all the time. What happens to the clientele when that happens? Do people change their walking paths depending on the their food choice?

Potential details about “FOOD” and the relationship of food to Victory Monument emerges as one of the themes. Food is very important in Thai culture. The area is just like a big food center with everyone walking fast passing-by but when its time for food, it can stops you in your tracks.

Ideas:: Look at the detail

2009-03-16T16:18:00.000-07:00

Talking about the project with digital media manager Eliza Tyrrell - details in the provided photos of the site became more visible. Using or knowing "what is there already" was a great way to help me rethink the brief and how to understand the space.

I am interested in designing a space where people who are using the walkway and who voted for this space to be transformed will "FEEL" different. It's not just about making it look different.

Links >> The Blur Building

2009-03-16T16:04:00.000-07:00

The blur building was a suspended platform shrouded in a perpetual cloud of man-made fog, designed by architects Elizabeth Diller and Ricardo Scofidio. The cloud could host up to 400 visitors. The blur event was visible from a long distance away.

the 'blur building' by diller and scofidio

I like this notion of the British fog coming to Bangkok. It could also create a fantastic projection screen for animated graffiti and textures to block out the razzmatazz of the noisy traffic below. Playing with the idea of the SKY WALK - walking on air, walking on a cloud. Fun!

Ideas:: Water design

2009-03-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

... in discussion with artist and film maker Ben Jones, he mentioned trying a water pressure gun to design patterns into the dirt lining the concrete walls... Really interesting! Sourcing materials which are local to the site are of interest especially: sun - movement - heat - pollution - sound - smells. Keen on working with more ephemeral and transient materials.

Ideas:: Animated walls

2009-03-16T06:09:00.000-07:00

...thinking about animated wall installations and projections that illuminate the concrete with different designs depending on the time of day..... keen on NEON Lights and flexible LED.