“Shkolka” (The Shell) is a small
stage-object located in the central park of Skopje, Macedonia. It is well known
by its citizens, as a natural gathering place in the city. Whilst growing up, I
appreciated the structure as a place that pulls people towards it - whether it
is kids playing, teenagers skating on it or as a meeting place used by the
youngsters for small gigs/concerts. Despite its humble size, it is a focal
point and a truly welcoming public space.
I recently chose to explore the formal and
spatial qualities of ‘the Shell’ as an exercise in observation, drawing and
photography.
The
name of the object (The Shell) arises from the sculptural concrete auditorium,
whose form (in addition to its specific acoustic properties) creates a background
for the stage, while virtually embracing the space it defines. I find this
protective quality and the formal similarity it has to a shell structure
intriguing (as is the relationship between the object and the surrounding
landscape) - as can be witnessed by a series of my photographs.
Snails and tortoises have a protective
shell on their back as an integral part of their being. An analogy can be made
between the shell on a tortoise’ s back, which acts as a shelter and mobile
home, and the embryonic position humans choose to adopt, whenever they feel
threatened. The fetal position is a comforting figure offering both a sense of
intimacy, comfort and protection. A series of photographs explore this
comparison (images of myself taken by a friend), in relation to my images of
the Shell within its surroundings, creating a particular visual dialogue. My
drawings of the Shell are an exercise in sketching and becoming familiar with
the conventions of orthogonal drawings as the architectural representation of space
and form.
