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| ALEKSANDRA
MIR / NAMING TOKYO PART II |
The
idea is based on the fact that westerners often complain that
Tokyo has no street names and that you can't find your way
around without a guide who simply knows the logic of his own
city. I always thought that was such a superb form of local
resistance—no key! So I felt it would be interesting
to start naming the streets of Tokyo with names from western
culture and society, to help us around. I am sure the people
of Tokyo will like it too!
Needless
to say, Tokyo is large and I will need thousands and thousands
of names, even for the central area. I have started by asking
my friends for help by providing me with a short list of names
on any coherent theme, that I will apply to the streets. In
return and as thanks, they will have a neighborhood named
after themselves.
The
names will be grouped around any poignant literary or political
moment of the west, or of any the most banal elements of our
society, that then will be reflected back in the physical
neighborhoods of Tokyo. I have asked people to follow their
fancy and stick close to their heart. Names in any western
language will do, but I will leave out any reference to Street,
Rue, Calle, etc., keeping only the name as such.
After
the first installment of the work, the map at the Palais de
Tokyo this summer, we will continue to actually try to implement
these names into common use. This can happen by a variety
of means—producing more publications of guidebook type,
starting to refer to popular tourist spots with the new street
names, infiltrating advertising and community planning, and
possibly and hopefully even starting to put up street signs
on location. It may take forever, but it starts with a blank
map and the very first nominations. I can't wait. - Aleksandra
Mir
Naming Tokyo
June 5 - September 14, 2003. Palais de Tokyo, as part of the
exhibition GNS: Global Navigation System. Curated by Nicolas
Bourriaud.
Naming Tokyo (part II)
Opens Nov 13 , Swiss Institute, NYC, curated by Marc Olivier
Wahler.
Naming Tokyo (part III)
Opens January 23, 2004 , Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia.
Curated by Bennett Simpson.
http://www.icaphila.org/exhibitions/upcoming.php
http://www.aleksandramir.info/projects/tokyo/tokyo.html
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