Thursday, September 15, 2011

EPHEMERAL: Sofía Rivera, the ephemeral becomes ephemeral



What do I think of myself acting in a public space?
I've found myself acting in different public spaces/scenarios, in different countries, playing different roles, as an architect analyzing the space, as a walking person trying to get somewhere, a driver, a tourist that gets lost, a student, a woman, a visitor, a resident, a person doing exercise, a leader of a group of children, a singer, an audience in a concert or a public talk... In every situation I have become a different person, with a different attitude and a different sense of "safeness" (when we were singing on the street I felt like nothing bad could happened to us), why is this difference? maybe is it because of the different type of public spaces that I'm talking about? street / plaza / park ? or maybe I am the one who's changing despite of the place?

I believe that when I start to live a city as one unified place,it will become more close to the word "home"... (this is a huge challenge for me and my city).

P.S. Despite of the differences, one of the common feelings that I get here in my country is fear, it appears in every situation, except when I'm singing (I'm guessing it's because I'm really distracted), even though I've been assault only one time.


What do I think Salvadorean attitude in public space is?

I think the "Salvadorean attitude" is really complex, because of the different social roles, you can go from plazas with old men sitting on the floor, playing the guitar, reading the paper, selling you sweet cotton and all kinds of seeds, to a park where young people are playing sports, passing by the ephemeral bus stops that have become more dangerous than walking alone on the sidewalk; but in a general manner, I think fear is in almost every person that walks a city that has 12 deaths per day, so your attitude becomes your personal defense, everyone is on alert, you can't trust anybody, nothing is free, everyone is suspicious, walk as fast as you can, try not to get noticed, but if you do, give away your belongings if you don't want to get hurt...

This is sad but true in almost every sidewalk, bus stop or ally. In order to contribute to change this attitude, we have to create public spaces that invite you to feel safe, trough open barriers, spaces with enough light and people (people are very important in safeness), spaces where you can eat... spacer where you feel safe "at home".

by Sofía Rivera




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