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30/4/2009

Santiago Sierra

MARCO, Museo de Arte Contemporanea, Vigo

Curator Iñaki Martínez Antelo

Former courthouse and prison building in Vigo, Spain - April 2009

Cement breakwater tetrapods were chosen for this project. These elements were selected because of the facility with which they can be assembled and the way they “naturally” hook together to form strong water-containing barriers or breakwaters. We installed the tetrapods on the radial axes of the old jail-turned-museum at equal distances with respect to the axes extending outward from the centre marked under the dome. They were also put in places where the space fans out, in the old patios as well as the old galleries. In the latter more open spaces we acted upon the convergent sub-axes with the same placement pattern as with the main axes. The number of tetrapods was determined by the sizes in which we were ultimately able to obtain them; the larger they were the fewer elements and vice versa. In general we will seek to fill the space without overloading it with objects. We aim to lend a sense of order that visually unifies the space, so that visitors are left with an impression of the building’s original structure, which is usually superseded for the sake of the exhibitions.

Before installing these modules we covered the floor with the thick white plastic commonly employed in construction work, with the double function of protecting and unifying the floor surface, since in some cases it is made of stone and in others wood. We removed all the temporary architectural elements from the showrooms —false plaster walls and so on— in order to strip the rooms and bring out their original layout. We left these elements in the rooms next to the walls, underscoring the fact that elements were indeed removed, yet aiming to prevent them disturbing the general arrangement of the tetrapods.

From the moment the installation tasks are begun until the show closes the rooms are not to be cleaned, considering that the remains of work activity are proof of the fact that it has taken place. This proposal will be shown at two times: mounting and exhibiting. Announced as a “Work action” we invite visitors to attend the mounting from the upper floor. Reproducing the guard-prisoner relationship as a spectator-worker relationship, visitors will occupy the space originally meant for guarding convicts. We will therefore remove the elements that block this view from the upper floor. The lower floor, where the work will be carried out, will be closed off and safe from visitors. Nothing should bother the workers during the mounting process.

1st EPILOGUE
HANDING OVER THE EXHIBITION SPACE TO THE AUTHORITIES FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND DEMONSTRATION OF CONFISCATED GOODS

Former courthouse and prison building in Vigo, Spain / May 2009 – May 2010
The museum conference room will be transferred to the National Police for one year for them to show the confiscated goods they normally show in the way they normally do. We are referring to any type of confiscated goods, ranging from weapons to clothing fakes, drugs to falsified documents. It will simply be a transfer of the space. No attempt will be made to vary the way in which they announce or display the confiscated goods. Nor should the material be shown longer than necessary. The museum will collaborate fully by facilitating the agents with the elements needed for exhibiting the items, such as tables and lights, in addition to the infrastructure needed for accommodating the press. In exchange, the authorities will allow me to photograph every confiscated article as conceptual appropriation. The year-long transfer will not entail a decrease in the other conference room activities. The confiscations that are to occur by surprise will presumably remain for a brief period of time alone. Nonetheless, the museum should be equally expeditious in taking down and putting up signs or other elements that may hamper the authorities.

2nd EPILOGUE
TRANSLATION OF A COLLOQUIUM

Former courthouse and prison building in Vigo, Spain / May 1st 2009
Colloquium by José Luis Velasco titled “FOR WORKERS THERE IS ALWAYS A CRISIS”
DVD video, black-and-white, 80’

Santiago Sierra

Communication & Press Department
Marta Viana Tomé
Pilar Souto Soto
Tel. +34 986 113908 / 113903 Fax +34 986 113901 marta.viana@marcovigo.com pilar.souto@marcovigo.com

MARCO, Museo de Arte Contemporánea de Vigo
Rúa Príncipe 54 - 36202 Vigo (Pontevedra) Spain
HOURS
Tuesday through Saturday (including holidays) from 11.00 am to 9.00 pm
Sundays, from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm

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