Dirt

DIRT is a participatory installation that emerged from observing the numerous vitrines of small shoppings left empty in countries such as Portugal, Spain and Italy after the European crisis late 2009. The idea was to reproduce the dust from the pollution left on the glass. People would leave comments, drawing as reminiscence of the time passing by and the fact that nothing is changing.

The building chosen for the first work was the Ben Pimlott Building from Goldsmiths College, designed by Will Alsop, achieved in 2005. Its very corporate aspect doesn’t reflect the neighbourhood of New Cross where it was built. During the opening of the MFA final show in 2012, the audience spontaneously wrote messages adding in this manner meaning to the piece. This intervention was also a way to echo the protest of students against the governmental cuts, occupying the building in 2010.

In 2018, DIRT was re-activated during the group exhibition UNION 24/7 by the Montesinos Foundation at Halle Nord in Geneva- closing, in this manner, the exhibition space during art Basel. More information here.