Turnhout to Zutendaal (Belgium), 2012.
Commissioned by Trage Wegen VZW for Sideways Festival.
For the 100km journey between Turnhout and Zutendaal, Wrights & Sites walked with four 'ambulant architectures'. Oskar Schlemmer used this term for architectural stage costumes. Our objects were not costumes, but were designed to be carried by the walker. We took inspiration from ramblers, nomads, refugees and DIY enthusiasts. To recognise the walker as a maker or a transformer of the lived environment. To critically reconfigure the various spaces along the Sideways journey, by providing the possibility of demarcating, signalling, decorating, raising, celebrating, luring, containing. Stephen chose to walk with two sets of Le Corbusier’s idealised geometric forms (one solid and one wireframe). Simon with a skeletal boat structure. Cathy with a beacon. And, Phil with a plinth. The 'ambulant architectures' were made by sculptor Tony Weaver.
Images: Stephen Hodge, Simon Persighetti, Phil Smith, Cathy Turner, Trage Wegen VZW, Conan Lawrence.
Sideways marketing material
Sideways overview
The wayfarers' final day
Beacon context
The beacon and razor wire
The beacon and fire
Plinth context
Phil carrying the plinth
The plinth as piano stool
Boat context
Simon carrying the boat and water
The boat and railway infrastructure
Geometries context
Stephen walking with a wireframe cuboid
Solid geometries at the former Winterslag colliery
Preparing for the 'Ambulant Architectures' session
The session at the 'Moving On' symposium
Sideways marketing material
More information about the work
Further details about Sideways Festival 2012 can be found below.