Felipe Castelblanco

Year
2017

Medium / Material / Technic
Augmented-reality monument, pedestal

Places
Schlossgarten 08.08–15.09.2019
Gutenbergplatz 08.08.–15.08.2019
Schlossplatz 16.08.–22.08.2019
Werderplatz 23.08.–29.08.2019
Ludwig-Wilhelm-Straße 1 30.08.–05.09.2019
Fliederplatz 06.09.–15.09.2019

A temporary public artwork, »The People’s Monument(s)« involves locative media, or augmented reality, and experiments in speculative design.

The project consists of a plinth and a 3D monument. To see the monument, viewers point their mobile devices toward the top of the plinth and read the marker with the camera. This leads them to a website on which the monument can be viewed from multiple angles. Viewers can also become participants and contribute to the monument’s ongoing design as a 3D assemblage during weekly workshops. A 3D artist working on-site helps translate their visions and sketches, integrating these renderings into the growing digital sculpture.

Proposals submitted for a new »people's monument« can reflect competing or controversial ideas and political views, and represent diverse groups. The project’s public nature encourages dialogue and productive debate between participants. This un-monumental piece explores Karlsruhe residents’ perceptions of public space, eco-social conditions, place in history, and visions of public art.

Since 1960–70 the so-called participatory turn has gained prominence in the cultural field as well as in urban planning. Referring to its principles, this work is an opportunity to shift attention from the historical and symbolic role of traditional public art to the very act of dialogue and the quest for a kind of »monumental consensus.«