Social Design – [THE] LIQUID STATE

After brainstorming on different boundaries, we realized that it’s difficult to isolate one boundary and work with it. If you try to address one you are in way addressing some other boundary as well. It’s like a complex interconnected system. So, we decided that we will look at boundaries from a different point of view, “A relationship between Individuals, Territories and Resources” in the City of Kortrijk.

As mentioned in the previous post Buda Island is surrounded by 2 branches of the Leie, one which is flowing calmly in its golden glory between the Broel Towers and the other one is now used by massive commercial boats with new state of the art technological bridges. Hence, the city is having three parts.

We propose 3 scenarios to create new experiences around to the river, in order to change it’s perception and to cross social boundaries in a playful yet meaningful way. As this residency is a social participatory experiment at its core and we want these three scenario or outcome to live even after we leave for our respective places; We aim to do this by engaging local people, skills, places, materials, infrastructure and facilities. This gives the ownership to the people as they are part of the process.

The three Scenarios are:

Scenario 1

Scenario one deals with Individual boundaries, which are something which are related to the way we humans conduct ourselves, the way we interact with others. Some times all one needs is a way to communicate or cross barriers to go from point A to point B. We create bridges as a way to do this.

To us “Bridge” is an object that represents which a way to communicate. You necessarily need no to actually cross a physical bridge to communicate. And since the rives divides the city and bridges are prominent objects in the city of Kortrijk, we want to create an installation that could be an reinterpretation of a bridge, “A Communication Bridge” on the commercial side of the river, which is being used by bikers, joggers, walkers and school students.

This installation proposes a new appropriation of this space to invite people for new experiences by connecting them in a playful way.

Scenario 2

Scenario two deals with Resource boundaries, which are related to the resources, cause the resources can also create a divide among people, societies, regions and countries.

Welcome to Kortrijk, a beautiful but rainy city. Tired of your umbrella? Bored in front of the TV? A beautiful thing like rain can be a spoiler, when it is there around 220 days of a year. What can one do with such a resource? Can the restricting nature of the resource be turned into something wonderful? Would you like to experience something special outside?

We propose a cosy place situated at the west time of Buda Island providing a different use and experience of a rainy day. A place where you can enjoy nature at its best, among plants, breeze and the sound of water.

Scenario 3

Scenario three deals with Territory boundaries, which are related to the way certain regions are located in space and their use.

On the historical side of the river, it feels that the time somehow stopped progressing, the water is still flowing calmly as it did ages ago. Far away from the technological bridges and massive boats. The river in the city is not used in a way rivers are used in a lot of cities. And after talking to several locals we understood the need or creating a space closer or in the river.

We propose re-create the concept of an island as a public space, a new invitation for a closer experience into nature, new perception of the river as a public space to relax and enjoy outdoor activities. The goal of this installation is to create a livable and lively extension of the river.

For making these scenarios come to life we are talking to students, groups, organizations, small manufacturing setups, factories etc. We are making collaborations with various stakeholders, as that is the only way to do this. Rather than a Top to Bottom approach, we are looking the other way around. This project is a big co-creation activity and while doing this “We would like to shake and create new Liquid Social State which is organic, every flowing and a creates a network.”

More details on the scenarios in the coming posts.

We – Deborah, Maria and Sahil are 3 Designers with different backgrounds, bound together during 3 months in the city of Kortrijk which is divided in 3 parts by the river Leie.

As the theme of the residency is “Enabling Liquid Boundaries by Social Design”, we started looking at what is a boundary and what are the various types and aspects. As the three of us came from different places and contexts, the boundaries were also different for us. We categorized boundaries into Tangible (resources, nature, physical limitations) and Intangible (emotional, intellectual, mental). And we call ourselves “THE LIQUID STATE” to signify the characteristic of the liquid state to be adaptable to any change and to be organic.

In order to see or experience various boundaries in the city, we started talking and meeting (some happened accidentally and some were planned by Design Regio) people to know more about their lives. We met Anna Maria Cornella, a Social Designer from Kortrijk. Being a social designer and having worked with people from the city, she suggested that we have conversations with various city dwellers and also map the Buda Island (where we are staying and working). The purpose of this was to gain insights into the culture and demography and also to make the conversations we were having with people in a tangible form.

We went out to talk to people and started noting down the conversations which we were having with them. I went ahead and spoke to people who have immigrated to Kortrijk or who come to the city for work. I called these people the “Secondary Citizen” because Kortrijk is a small city which houses people from various countries, ethnicities, cultures, colors, languages, age and food. Some people are from the city, some are staying in the city for work and some come everyday for work. The stories of 6 people was put in a small booklet form, Secondary Citizen. Maria saw this in a different way, she spoke to a person and then asked for a recommendation, hence creating a human chain of conversation. Deborah interpreted the conversations with people from the view point of the objects which were around or being discussed.

After a period of observation and understanding, we realized that the river Leie was an important factor in the history and construction of the city. A century ago Leie led to flourishing of Flax trade and was called the “Golden River” because flax was used to be immersed in the water which gave it a golden color or hue and also metaphorically it had a major positive impact on the economy and well being of the city.

DCIM147GOPRO

Texture Museum

One of the other important part of the city is Buda Island (creative part, which is surrounded by 2 branches of the Leie, one which is flowing calmly in its golden glory between the Broel Towers and the other one is now used by massive commercial boats with new state of the art technological bridges. We live in Buda Island in a house which we share with artist who are doing their residence in Kunstencentrum BUDA. So, we meet and share spaces with a lot of creative and interesting people and all of them have a lot to offer and they provide us feedback from time to time. So, we are learning a lot about performative art, dancing, theater etc.

Leie

We are also engaging with the local schools, institutes, organizations and administration to explore the possibility of collaborations. We did a workshop in University of Gent (Howest Campus) with the students of Ellen De Vos. We did a Hackathon with the city on the project of Arc de Triomphe, which works on the message of “Give someone you do not know a gift” during the Christmas season. We met Ruben Bolwerk, which is a place at the crossroads of young people, business and art. Meeting, creation and wonder are central to the operation. We met Simon and Lucas from Lieve Zusjes- Stoere Broers who experiment in the public space, and always with their cargobikes, and also attended one of their rooftop cinema session.

Bolwerk

Rooftop Cinema

Deborah at Howest

In order to explore the relationship between Individuals, Territories and Resources, we are meeting various stakeholders from the city of Kortrijk and are proposing some scenarios which can create new experiences linked to the river and the city. The purpose of these scenarios is to create an inquire or to start a conversation or to change the perception of Leie and to cross social boundaries in a playful way. Doing this by engaging local people, skills, materials and places in this participatory project of ours.We would like to shake and create new Liquid Social State which is organic and every flowing.