TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

7:05 PM
Posted by jodi rose

There are definitely highlights to this insane artists life.

Palast der Republik last Tuesday, walking around the demolition site with the chief foreman, he took Sophie Erlund and I to all the beams with good vibrations, and let us listen to any part of the building we wanted. Sophie's idea is beautiful, a kind of swansong as it is demolished, I was just along for the ride, and placing the contact mikes. One particular section where the worker closest to us is carving up the concrete into squares, ready to be lifted out, and as his machine stopped, all the other de-construction taking place around the site came into sonic relief, in this gorgeous un-building symphonic moment.

The workers packed up for lunch in stages, we recorded some of the asbestos removing machine as it vibrated the toxic matter away - they promised it wasn't dangerous mum, really - and then the foreman asks, pointing up to one of the cranes: 'Do you want a gondola ride?'

YEAH! Sophie enthusiastically agreed, while I shrieked in terror and tried to run away, but she hauled me back and made me get into the tiny metal box that was soon swinging 50 metres above the site. Most of the time I spent convinced I was about to die, but when I could actually open my eyes and breath again it was totally amazing. Incredible view of the city, and they spun us around in a 360 degree panorama. Now that's an experience you don't get everyday!

The recordings are in the vault, where Sophie will weave her magic and turn them into a stunning poetic reverie installation in the near future.