A Certain Degree of Pain

Finally it's done. On July 7th 2009 I successfully passed my final thesis presentation. The last semester was a hell of a ride. I don't say it was too wild and fast but slow and painful. Also the result is not as convincing as I wanted it to be. Nevertheless I want to share some pictures of my practical thesis work and reflections on the project as a whole with you.

I think I described my intentions and the conceptual base before. The tower becomes an image for the stability of a society based on employment turning into a fragmented structure of diversified and flexibilized forms of work in the continuous demand for economic growth. The state instability the different terms that describe those types of employment appear in represents the unsecurity in view of retaining the own social state and the subjective feeling of the people affected by these developments. Social stability depends on the ability to create plans for the own future – a guaranteed future.

In its size and materiality aspects like growth, stability/instability and the physical and inuitive experience of them are to be communicated. The recipient attracted by the object itself sees the typographic information being shaped solely through light and shadow.

The installation was placed at two locations in Basel in public space. On June 28th at Messeplatz and on June 29th at Barfüsserplatz. I documentated the structure in its urban surrounding and the reactions of people passing by. In the final presentation I introduced the concept to the jury, showed the installation and the documentary material and a detailed process documentation including my culture-theoretical paper. As soon as I've finished my post-thesis convalescence I'll publish a detailed overview on the project here in my portfolio.

/update/: Thanks to Stefano of typopolis blog for mentioning my project. I didn't expect it to be spread before I had even finished it.