BackANA 2010
Urban Parasite: Onsite-Offsite Intervention
1.Brief description of project
Urban Parasite Project (UPP) formed after series of mobile critical forums on urban issues and urban development concerning the socio-cultural impact of the Krung Rattakosin Master Plan since 1976.
In 2006, “(RE) Writing City” was as initial event for public participation and awareness with the
collaboration from various organizations such as the academic institution, the media, artist,
architect, planner, activist, and the affected communities around the area. The event comprise of art exhibition/installation, workshop, lecture, seminar, discussion and performance that portrayed the picture of top down approach.
In 2009, Urban Media Society (UMS) loosely formed and collaborated with ‘Safe Place In The Future’ an Education Program with Art exhibition/installation which was curates by Somsuda Piamsamrit.
From this event is a result of ongoing network building and expansion of our critical activity. We received cooperation from interdisciplinary fields of research and interest such as social activist, researcher, community architect, visual/media artist, writer and film maker. The focus of our work is in the change of urban environment and society that affect the quality of life in the contemporary world today. Therefore we (all of us) must be a part of making the city we live in into a better place and must share our ideas for future improvement and development.
Until recent year in 2010, our group is gaining more attention, UMS was invited to join Community Architect Network (CAN) in Architect 2010 Annual Event and participated in talk and lecture series amongst the group.
2. Aims / Objective / Goals of project
• to build up a social network and provides a social platform to discuss and criticize the urban issues related to various disciplines
• to accumulate body of knowledge and to raise the awareness on the change of built environment of the city and city culture through visual/cultural media
• to share and compare our interest to other part and sectors in various cities of Thailand concerning the academic institution, the government authority, community and the public
3. Methodology / Implementation of project
Methodology
• survey/ research/ observation/ interviews/ mappings/ literature Review
• intervention of urban parasite- both onsite and offsite/ road show
• talk, lecture, workshop, film screening
Implementation
Stage I: Research
The Urban Parasite Project will start with the input from community and academic institution, and artist/designer community. Public participation and opinion is important. Mappings and literature reviews on the contemporary urban/city development would be gathered and analyzed.
Stage II: Public Awareness and Collaboration/Road show
Public discussion and exchange of ideas will be the emphasis at this stage as this will dig up the cause of problem and in the end it will return the appropriate solution. Besides, the art form of Road show with series of activity will be performed.
Stage III: Onsite-Offsite Intervention
The workshop will select a site to allow participation and collaboration from all party. This is an
experimentation of using media and tools in the Urban Intervention which is about the physical vs the virtual space. Discussion and documentation will be another supportive method.
Stage IV: Public Interaction and Presentation
All outputs through Road show will be exhibited and The Urban Parasite Project Conclusion and presentation to public for feedback and comments.
4. Time frame of project
• June 2011 Initial research and survey
• July 2011 Meeting/ Discussion/ Road show preparation
• August 2011 Road show # 1 In Bangkok + upload information on website
• September 2011 Road show # 2 Outside Bangkok + upload information on website
• October 2011 Road show # 3 Outside Bangkok + upload information on website
• November 2011 Workshop/Documentation/Discussion
• December 2011 Public Presentation/Exhibition
5. Output of project
Road show / Intervention
In order to achieve the network building and knowledge accumulation, series of activity and event must be implemented. Throughout the project, the output is in the form of Road show in City of Bangkok and other global city in other part of Thailand that signifying complexity of urban change.
The Road show consists of the following activities:
• Film screening
• Lecture/Discussion
• Workshop
• Exhibition /Presentation
6. Target Audience
• Communities in the area and general public
• Artist and Designer communities
• Academics/Researchers/Students in the fields of visual art, architecture, design, urban study, social science, political science, sociology cultural study
• Media and Press
7. Dissemination of information
• Virtual and electronic media through social network interface such as facebook, blog, websites or e-mails.
• Printed matter such as flyers, posters or leaflets.
8. Project Impact
• Road show will draw attention from the public and related artist/designer community and especially the new age researcher and students in the interdisciplinary fields. Knowledge building and sharing would be accumulated, together with suggestions and possible solutions for urban/city problems.
• We hope to make a public platform for general and specific discussions and critics on urban changes and development through various forms of creative media. Thus we hope to strengthen our network and community and looking for further collaboration with other people/organization. And last but not least, we hope to inspire the new generation artist and designer to contribute to society in one’s own expertise for the betterment for all.