During our field trip to Madrid, by chance, Constant Nieuwenhuys' New Babylon was exhibiting at the Reina Sofia. By extreme coincidence, (as i wasn't familiar with the project before seeing it), it highlighted theories and concepts extremely relevant to our studio brief. In addition the diversity of representational modes, often merging with one another generated much thought for where I could develop my own work.
Constant aims for a synthesis of arts, a co-op with painters, sculptures, architects and construction technicians, to break with the monotony of urban development. (Sadler, 1998, p74). With New Babylon he creates a vision of a worldwide network of connected cities of the future. Land is collectively owned and labour fully automated. The need to work is replaced by a nomadic lifestyle of creative play. New Babylon is inhabited by homo ludens, who liberated from labour, has no need for art because he can be creative in his daily life. In Constant’s own words: New Babylon offers only minimal conditions for a behaviour that should remain as free as possible. Every limitation of movement, of the creation of mood and atmosphere should be inhibited. Everything should remain possible, everything should be able to happen. The environment is created by the activities of life not the other way around.
Comments