Starting from the topics streetlife, empty spaces and public space, we find out that: „The biggest crime in Zurich is sitting on a bench doing nothing“. We wondered what people do on benches and how long they’re staying there. So we filmed benches in different places.
Questions that came along were: Are you waiting or spending your time? Who has a lot of time? Are you the audience or an actor when sitting on a bench?
We focused on the topic „Time“ and made a installation with different clips from benches all over Zurich on six screens. The text below was on two ipads in front of the installation. There was also a live-camera installated which was transfered to another screen. So the audience was part of the installation and played with the topic audience/actor and time.
Time
Time passed the bench, where a little boy sat.
Time wanted to sit, but he have to walk away.
The boy invited him to seat, but Time gently refused.
“I have to keep walking“, Time explained, “and so should you.“
The boy sat still.
For a moment he thought of remaining on the bench, but he have to go, too.
Time was right.
I have to leave, the boy thought, but the bench will be empty.
He stood there for a while, stuck a gum under the bench and left. The cleaner arrived later, and wiped the gum away.
“All bullshit.“ He muttered.
by Ana-Maria Negrea, Shang-Chiao Li, Isabelle Sprenger