Permanence vs Temporality




In the 1970s Charles Simonds made miniature worlds which sat delicately in the existing urban environment. To read more about his work click here: http://www.patamagazine.com/en/i-mondi-di-charles-simonds
Many Street Artists today follow similar principles to create moments of wonder in the everyday.


After our picnic, we asked lots of questions about the possible value of our intervention.

In our culture, permanence and tangible ‘measurable’ outcomes are more readily valued than temporary things.

How can we justify the creation of temporary interventions, or things that change over time?



Some thoughts on permanence and temporality that came out of the session:

•    A moment remains in the collective memory / consciousness  whereas a permanent ‘fixture’ can quickly become invisible ‘just part of the furniture’

•    A temporary intervention can allow creative risks / leaps of imagination

•    Greater freedom of materials / methods

•    Transformative

•    Appropriate to a moment in time, as well as a space


In the context of ‘Small Change’ there are other benefits…


•    Temporary works can enliven a space and act as a form of research into new possibilities

•    Temporary works can sometimes provide good evidence for future projects – a legacy for future activity for an area or community,

•    Opportunity for early career creatives to get involved – learning experiences…

•    Getting creative people engaged in their own communities in ways that involve their specialist skills.

Briefly occupying space in playful, joyful ways with Lottie Child's 'Street Training' - a potentially controversial intervention that explores how we feel about, and interact with, urban space. To learn more click here: http://www.streettraining.org/content/what-street-training