research

Privacy is a privilege.

If I think about bringing privacy or intimacy to public space, I think about how sometimes we need to rely on public space to be a safe and comforting environment. In moments of vulnerability, I often go outside, escaping and diving into the stressful city life at once. I think vulnerability and intimacy connect.

By bringing intimate objects into the public space/domesticating public space, I would show a contrast between privacy, intimacy, vulnerability, and the public space.

When I move into a public space I always feel very exposed to whoever is there with me. It’s like my daily life and also some intimate moments are exposed to the public.

That is why it’s important that the public space feels safe for everyone. We need places where we can go (outside of our homes). Not everyone has a reliable, consistent, and safe environment at home. For some, the city is the only place they can freely express themselves. Or at least it should be.

By building a comforting, restful environment in a public space, bringing intimate objects into public space. I created a series of intimate interventions. I'm making or finding objects that represent intimacy or domestication. For a designated time, keep going out and doing little interventions/experiments. Documenting myself doing this. (photo, video, etc.)

By conducting field research and studying artistic references, I'm testing my concept and its visual aspect. Furthermore, I want to further investigate the context of the locations I intervene to add another layer.

Next to this, I'm researching similar concepts and how I could back up my concept with a theoretical angle.

I'm researching the terms intimacy, domestication, vulnerability, and privacy and what they mean to other people. As well as what they would desire from their city. For this, I'm making a questionnaire trying to reach the opinion of different groups of people.

I'm also looking into what AI considers intimacy or domestication, privacy or public space, etc. as part of my research.

Through this, I want to get a deeper understanding of what these terms mean for people and how I could translate their desires into imagery.

Why do I want to do this?

I find the power of vulnerability and intimacy an interesting concept. And I connect it to rest and slowing down as well.

It is a privilege to be able to rest (in privacy). Bringing intimate, comfortable objects to the public space can counteract the hostile and profit-oriented way of urban planning in Rotterdam.

I believe a city can provide great joy, shelter, and escape for its people. With increasingly high rents and little security in housing, we need to be able to rely on smart, convenient solutions in urban planning which reflect the current crises and provide shelter and comfort to people.