This is my home
A small tribute to spontaneous acts of resistance and liberation
Year: 2021
Materials: self-adhesive wallpaper, wood lectern, interactive audio
Dimensions: 8 ft x 12 ft
Location: National Liberty Museum. Philadelphia, USA
Photos: Ana Mosquera
"At the core of the 'This Is My Home' project lies an unconventional and unregulatable urge to nurture human connections. Our objective was to establish a space where the very concept of 'home' undergoes a profound transformation, transcending established societal norms and financial structures.
The project mirrors a world where traditional social contracts, which were historically reliant on the stability of currency, now find themselves in a state of uncertainty. It highlights the fragility of these established agreements, particularly in times of economic turbulence. The experiences of regions like Venezuela, where hyperinflation has sparked the emergence of novel social contracts, highlight this shift. When traditional currencies lose their value, people turn to art, music, and community bonds to create new norms, resources, and sources of joy.
The wallpaper covering the space encapsulates the visual synthesis of these tumultuous and ever-changing systems of wealth generation. The sounds you record during your visit, intricately woven into an ever-evolving auditory tapestry, serve as a constant reminder that 'home' is where our collective presence holds its significance. This interplay of transient sensory experiences and digital artifacts, enmeshed into the fluidity of time, built this home.
However, it's crucial to grasp that this space is not a simple response to the surging wave of crypto-technology, nor is it a conventional celebration of art within the home. Rather, it stands as evidence of how these technologies and actions become instruments of resistance. It underscores how we inhabit our homes, engage in conversations, and seek financial stability as acts of defiance in a world that continuously encroaches upon our private spaces.
'This Is My Home' is a tribute to the spontaneous acts of resistance and liberation that challenge established norms and artistic constraints. It creates a space rich in sonic empathy, with walls shimmering with boundless potential. In 'This Is My Home,' resistance and liberation evolve into living art forms, reshaping our perception of 'home' to extend beyond its physical boundaries, inviting everyone to participate in the experience."
Project Development
In December 2021, the National Liberty Museum of Philadelphia initiated an open call for artists to submit proposals for an 8 x 12 ft home that would be displayed in the museum during the summer. During this time, Evan and I engaged in discussions regarding the ideas behind a design that I had previously printed at the FWM (Fabric Workshop and Museum) and decided to create an experimental piece that would seamlessly incorporate sound and light to my design from FWM.
Evan's vision for the sound component involved inviting visitors to record their voices and employing an algorithm to splice, disintegrate, and reassemble these recorded sounds. This resulting audio fragment would become an integral part of the overall soundscape, continuously playing within the space, encompassing the voices of all those who ever inhabited our home.
Dr. Evan Kassof (b. 1988) is an opera maker, sound artist, composer, and conductor based in Philadelphia. He has a background in physics and has collaborated directly with physicists on Heat Death and Turbulence and written phenomenologically-inspired works such as those in his Cosmos n series.
