Bride 2 : Text Map Making

Site : Canal Street Station

Ha Rim Kim

When I first arrived at Canal Street, I saw Chinatown. As I expected, people on the street were speaking in Chinese and most of the stores were Chinese restaurants, souvenir store, massage shop, and bubble tea shop etc. However, while walking along the canal street, I was surprised to see how the atmosphere changes. SoHo, where I visited directly, looked like a battlefield for big fashion brands. As well as low-priced brands familiar to me such as Zara and Uniqlo, luxury fashion brand shops were filling Soho streets. Then I started to inquire myself, ‘How can that Chinatown small souvenir shop and Soho’s expensive luxury store coexist on the same street?’ ‘That souvenir shop really can afford this high rent fee?’ 

Canal Street and Bowery New York, NY 10013

 

Every area surrounding Chinatown has been accelerating Gentrification and I thought Chinatown also might be ongoing this process. Therefore, I chose to focus on the history of Chinatown and what Gentrification will affect present and future. Gentrification is mainly used in the negative sense that rents are rising and aboriginal people are being thrown out as backdrops of old towns flourish. On the other hand, in some regions or countries, it is often used as a word of hope that a neglected city will seek new vitality through development. In this context, New York is the region with the most noticeable contrast in gentrification. As it is the largest commercial city in the world, it has been in the past and the large capital of investors all over the world is still attracting New York. This is the reason why New York is the center of the world’s economic and financial centers, and the region with the greatest disparity in wealth. Then ‘How is Chinatown coping with this circumstance?’ was start of my research, probe and interview for this map-making.

First of all, I went on a field study to observe the conditions of the contrast between light and shade. And then tried to acquire Interviews that dig inside the reality in Chinatown. Remarkably, many residences in Chinatown has been suffering with gentrification that their family businesses are threaten by unaffordable house payment and tax. Relating to this reality, I searched for articles and journals that explains the circumstance more specifically and what the mayor and community are trying to resolve this fast-growing area to maintain its history of Chinatown.

Last but not least, I made a map that shows the similar structure of economics of that area to give big impression to the reader about gentrification. Monopoly, a board game that buy or sell land and build buildings on the ground, reminded me as a reality of inflow of capitalists. The winner of this game is to secure a lot of land and expensive buildings faster than anyone else. When a player gains control of the land and real estate, the other players will be defeated without using the strategy to spend all the money they have to pay the rent. The winner of this game is someone who dominates popular areas such as SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown, where rent is high. As soon as the winner of Monopoly is decided, the game board which was lurched is quietly arranged. Just like those neighborhoods that have fallen sharply since they’ve been in trouble with the Gentrification.

From the workshop I had with peers, I felt the importance of capturing the real spot in our own eyes so that we unconsciously get attracted by our interests to start on research deeply on that theme. I was also the one who related with my management major into the theme of a developing area. That way, I was able to advance my knowledge and challenge myself to reach more creative ideas on delivery. From this point onward, I would like to improve myself more on understanding the intricate webs of interests in every environment. Therefore, I could be a great member of society that sympathize with constructing meaningful environment. 

Grand Central Terminal
89 E 42nd Street

Studio 2: Constructive Environment

Ha Rim Kim

Feb. 2. 2019

Research: Artist-Olafur Eliasson

1. What things does Eliasson do to “learn” about and “discover” ideas (research) for his projects?

In the beginning, Eliasson inquired himself, “Why am I actually seeing and what that means to me?” For this answer, he thought this kind of inquiry let optic on art offers selfevaluation. Then he dealt with the tool that he already has and know about which included water and temperature so on. In the practice of bringing ideas, he adds words and make models based on his intuition. Distance between where it starts and where it would go is same as relationship between thinking and doing. That way, He thought creativity is the consequences which comes along with breaking the rules, making the rules and reference of something that’s somewhere else.

2. What things does Eliasson do to help a work grow from an idea and into a realized project?

In order to help his work grow from an idea into a realized project, he takes several steps. He first makes models to bring an idea into life. Then he verbalizes the context on the relationship between the project and society. In the process of making it real, he interconnects with various networks. From his team worker’s interview, he is really open-minded person and the team give inspiration to each other concentrating more on content rather that the form. The team starts to make the project in terms of potential of the shape and material. Consequently, the project is made to do something meaningful to people.

3. How would you describe Eliasson’s approach to collaboration?

Eliasson now have collaborations with many craftsman, architects, administrators and cooks etc. Among the projects, Eliasson collaborated with engineer Frederick Ottesen for ‘The Little Sun (2012).’ This was more about the global social project to aware people the need to use sustainable energy by distributing the little sun solar lamp and having people hold sun in their hand. I think that Eliasson’s approach to collaboration has synergy effects. Since his every works contains the theme of public space to be filled with many people’s thoughts and experiences, his works should be made by various networks and understandings.

4. What are some of the major themes in Eliasson’s work (can you name more than four)? How are these explored in his work?

He worked a lot about what type of public spaces facilitate the inclusive elements, how can it hold people included and how do we generate the sense of connectedness without necessarily having to be the same. The Weather Project was made to share and see the other things in yourself holding hands with the sun. This project was especially matched with the purpose how to share space without having to be the same. Second one is ‘Your Rainbow Panorama.’ He explored various lights coming from inside and outside so that his physical activity is connected from how he sees. He wanted to tell that ‘If you don’t move, nothing change.’ The third project, Waterfall, is to tell that if the space has depth you are more likely to meet anyone and if the space has dimensions you can move. He then explored by making big waterfall in New York to make the depth. Another project held in Copenhagen, he brought the Ice of Greenland with the theme of global warming. He then let people experience the feeling of climate crisis by holding hands with icebergs. The project, Riverbed(2014), is an installation held in Denmark museum by bringing riverbend from Iceland. He wanted the consistent white so wrapped the roof to distract light coming in. Then he wanted to explore the non-existence of shadow. This project also included the theme of sharing thoughts of artwork.

1.  “X page” memory exercise

I’m in my living room crying very hard in front of my older brother. I’m telling him that I almost failed my final exam and I want to quit my high school. But my brother is not paying attention to me and just playing computer game. He telly me, “Get your minds together! You failed the exam because you didn’t do your best.” Annoyed by what he says, I’m just

2.