Public Art Project

Development & reflection (3)

For this public project, I wanted to create a work, or a setting, that would allow me to observe people’s behaviour in a public space. I chose to opt for an ‘installation piece’ that will challenge passers-by’s ability to encounter and value the details of their surrounding environment. I decided to place organic matters that looked like mushrooms on a quiet pedestrian street and waited to capture any reactions.

The mushroom imitation was simply the ‘stem’ you obtain after using all your garlic’s cloves. I am not counting on these organic miniatures to stay in place for long, someone will probably step on it, or the wind might blow them away. This is an ephemeral social experience.

Garlic and its cloves, still life study of what became the ‘Garlic Mushrooms’

During the installation process, no one saw what I was doing; someone asked me if I was photographing the house across the street and if I knew its history. Another lady thought I was collapsing on the ground, but no one picked up on the objects.

‘Garlic Mushrooms’ in-situ — 2021.

Overview of the number of passers-by that did not encounter the mushroom.

Because I did not want to interfere with any plausible reactions, I decided to hide in a bush and waiter with my camera. There again, no one noticed. The only person that saw the fungi figure was: a dog.

I think the fact that nobody came across the work except for a dog was even more interesting to witness. I think the result of this project is a good metaphor for human’s indifference to their surrounding.