THE TIE

The Tie observes the street below an apartment balcony in the diverse Belleville district of Paris over the course of a day. Walking and driving interactions reveal a colorful palette of chance patterns and spatial use. During the day, pedestrians maneuver around obstacles, other people, and vehicles in a seemingly disorderly, but seemingly carefully choreographed dance. At night, however, traffic becomes chaotic as citizens celebrate a one-one tie between Algeria and Russia in the World Cup. It is difficult to distinguish between drivers who are honking their horns in united celebration, and those who are honking in frustration over blocked streets. By focusing on one city street, The Tie provides insight into the mundane, yet strategic subconscious choices that occur in the everyday acts of walking and driving. The extended meditation is punctuated by phrases that demonstrate the artist's poor command of the French language, which, supplemented by Google Translate, reinforces the act of observer as (foreign) spectator. Single-channel video with sound, 16:40, 2015.