Method

Laboratory

It is proposed that participating artists, architects and local crafters will work for four weeks towards building a multi-functional living space/structure with locally available materials and techniques. As such the structure will be influenced and inspired by the surrounding materials, thus creating a unique and site-specific temporary architecture. The production/installation of the structure will be based on research done in the location, connecting with crafters and residents, researching material, designs, problems, interests etc. All participating artists will work as an independent part of the team, taking on specific objects and components that will make up the overall structure. This will result in a collage of actions and objects, including various spaces for living, sleeping, eating, working, entertaining and more, redefining daily activities. Most of the objects designed as part of the structure will be mobile in order to be re-located to the next city. Other objects that can benefit the communities will be left behind and only the ideas will re-locate. Local arts- and craftspeople will be involved in the development of the living-spaces-objects and the decoration and furnishing. In this way, exchanges of skills between participating artists and local communities will be ensured. CascolandSA welcomes involvement and participation on any level and for any length of time. As part of using the structure as a functional space, it will invite local caterers to set up their kitchen and feed the artists while working on Cascoland. Participating artists will be accomodated with residents of New Crossroads for the duration of the project. As the structure will grow and will be able to house activities, artists, and exchanges, one of the ideas is to start showing films and video-documentations in relation to DIY architecture and begin discussions around local and international practices. Moving Hands animation will workshop with schoolchildren to teach them all the aspects of animation filming and the results threof will be shown as part of our film-program as well. In this way, local communities will be drawn into the process, making it part of the environment in which it is built.

Presentation

With the completion of the mobile village, we will either invite the public to come visit Cascoland or go relocate to a central place (e.g. the Company s Gardens in Cape Town) to engage a larger audience. The public will be invited to book rooms in the mobile village for a night, visit our film-program, enjoy food & music and attend performances by various artists. The outcomes of the lab and the presentation will be incorporated into the next laboratory as the DIY-village keeps growing.

Publication

The intention is to compile the documentation on this project in form of a publication that will capture and reflect the ideals and conceptual intentions of the exhibition/installation. It will, essentially, outlive the project as a representative, informative and insightful catalogue about the collaboration between artists in the Netherlands and South Africa. The publication will combine conceptual text and image to evoke the qualities of the project and capture the feelings of the communities that it will impact. The publication will offer an ideal vantage point from which funders will gain exposure and association with the project.