ALTERNATIVE GUIDEBOOK

Group project with Lara Kavaklioglu, Diane Jeffcoat, Irene Hsu

 

 

 

 

palimpsest /ˈpalɪm(p)sɛst/ NOUN

  1. A manuscript or piece of writing material on which later writing has been superimposed on effaced earlier writing.
  2. Something reused or altered but still bearing visible traces of its earlier form.

(oxford dictionaries)

The Arènes de Lutèce houses secrets from over one-thousand years ago. By entering and opening yourself to it, you may be able to experience them. This alternative guidebook is the key to unlocking these secrets.

When we chose to observe the Arènes de Lutèce, we did not have many expectations (an amphitheater turned into a park does not seem very interesting), yet upon arrival we were overcome by the energy it had to offer.

As we stepped onto the gravel in the arena the crunching sounds took us back to roman times, and each step we took further revealed layer after layer. Like a palimpsest, it felt as if each layer of time wrote itself on top of the one that preceded it, resulting in a complex reading of the space. On top of that we chose to construct our own palimpsest, different ways of seeing it which merge to create this guidebook.

The past having the most layers is not easy to decompose, but as you tour the space you will be able to unveil and discover each of its layers. In its present state it is a park. Give yourself the time to observe the world around you and feel the mystery that remains. As you walk out remember that there is a future and this place still has pages left to fill in its story.

Just like the Arènes de Lutèce is living its lifespan and composing its layers so are you. This idea and journey of imposing ourselves on the amphitheater created such a bond that we wanted to give others the opportunity to feel the same energy. Thus, we created this guidebook. Now it is up to you. Follow the key and we are sure that if you allow it, the Arènes de Lutèce will leave an impactful mark on your life.

 

 

part 1

a guided visit

for the guided audio tour, participants were given these audio files and guided through the arena to play them.

 

participants were asked to write what they wanted to let go, and tie it to the playground behind the arena– uniting their history with the place’s.

 

 

part 2

an alternative guidebook

 

 

Each of us having focused on one part of the alternative visit (history, hidden mysteries, spaces and shapes, sound in space) the final result was an actual book as an alternative object.

It was divided in 4 layers/sections, each having its own meaning and form.

LAYER 1 – the guided visit sections.

LAYER 2 – the guided tour, having our audio scripts printed on transparent paper and a CD of the files.

LAYER 3 – a presentation of the “letting go” cloths.

LAYER 4 – the blank space, as an open area for the future to come.

 

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