Uncertainty in the city

Snaebjornsdottir, Bryndis and Wilson, Mark ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4123-2118 (2010) Uncertainty in the city. Art Lies, 65 .

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Abstract

In January of 2007, as a consequence of an earlier urban-animal project having come to their attention, we were commissioned by the Storey Gallery, Lancaster, UK, to research and make a proposal for a major new project. Uncertainty in the City is an artists’ project that begins with an examination of those animals that reside or nudge at the borders of our homes—those about whose presence we are ambivalent and over whose comings and goings we have a limited degree of control. In our research we explore questions such as: What is a pest? What is the relationship between fear or discomfort in this context and “a lack of control?” What are the inconsistencies in our responses to “nature” in our locality and the reasons behind such contradictions? And what is it about ourselves that is or begins to be revealed by the encroachment of outsiders in our midst? A few suggestions in answer to this have become evident from our research: Fear of a disregard of individual territory; Fear of a disregard of manners and protocols; Fear of an implicit erosion of boundaries; Fear of disruption of our own patterns of behaviour; Fear of those setting up residence, without our permission; Fear of aural disturbance; Fear of damage to property; The anxiety regarding pets and children; The anxiety regarding the possible spread of disease; And concerns regarding possible other, associated pest infestations.

Item Type:	Article
Journal / Publication Title:	Art Lies
Publisher:	University of Texas Press
ISSN:	1521-1606
Departments:	Academic Departments > Institute of Arts (IOA) > Fine Arts
Depositing User:	Insight Administrator
Date Deposited:	22 Feb 2012 10:26
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2024 09:15
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/1254

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