The art of Kevin Blythe Sampson

THE ART OF
KEVIN BLYTHE SAMPSON

8/6/19

CONCLUSION OF THE SUMMER SCHOOL OF THE 2019 BIOURBANISM A ARTENA

http://www.bioarchitettura.it/s7-notizie/biourbanism-summer-school-artena-rm/



CONCLUSION OF THE SUMMER SCHOOL OF THE 2019 BIOURBANISM A ARTENA

The National Institute of Bio-architecture was a partner of the 4th Summer School of the International Society of Biourbanism (ISB), "Designing a Home of Language" (Artena, Italy, 13-20 July 2019).
The work began with an analysis of recognition of the problematic situation of communication between man and man and their environment. This includes the effects of the impoverishment of human relations, conflicts, war, natural and built environmental disturbances, the financialization of the economy and the objectification of labor, climate change and forced mass migration. There is therefore the need to find solutions through forms of life based on feedback through multiple communicative settlements. To get out of the "Great Transformation" (K. Polanyi), we see the importance of many small cities that respect their traditions and cultures with respect to the life forms of the industrial and global metropolises.
An international group of scholars, artists and activists from Syria, Italy, Greece, Finland, Turkey, the United States, the United Kingdom, Romania, Slovenia, the Netherlands, India and Saudi Arabia have worked "from within" Artena, Italy. They met and worked for a week with the aim of formulating a logical model, an example and a typology that can be emulated in other parts of the planet because Artena offers a self-sufficient urban structure.
For the National Institute of Bio-architecture, Nando Bertolini spoke about the normative relationship and built up over the centuries and pointing out that the beautiful Italy, famous in the world, is not in compliance with the current rules. Stefano Serafini and Sergio Los have also actively participated and are part of our scientific committee. Daniela Parisi, Lazio coordinator and president of the Rome section, participated in some events together with our historical partner Francesco Parisi.
The summer school consisted of three components: three experiences were conducted:
1) a discussion and study seminar under the direction of Prof. Sergio Los;
2) The construction of a common sauna with the help of the locals under the direction of Prof. Marco Casagrande; 3) Artistic and cultural activities, including an art exhibition at the local Archaeological Museum of Artena, art installations, conferences and book presentations.

1. The seminar
The results of the seminar indicate that a biourban system can arise if:
- promotes an environment in which culture governs the economy and not vice versa, as happens today;
- belongs to a totality of time that goes from the past to the future;
- promotes a competitive lifestyle and improves mutual aid and cooperation above competition;
- opposes the domain of techno-sciences and favors art as knowledge and not as aesthetic entertainment;
- builds peace, unlike the industrial city, which provides for competitiveness, conflicts and, ultimately, war;
- it is multi-functional and autonomous in providing energy, food and basic services;
- is able to manage and govern himself as a multicellular organism;
- is based on a local economy and circulates through specific and designed tools;
- reconnects people to their place, landscape and bioclimatic specificity;
- improves environmental, economic, social and cultural sustainability;
- is based on biological dynamics as opposed to technological dynamics;
- it is a shared responsibility among its inhabitants;
- it is compact to encourage interaction and social communication;
- promotes sustainable and respectful accessibility and transport.

2. The sauna

The sauna was built freely from scratch, looking for its place first, then finding the building material available and finally the cooperative workforce between the participants and the local citizens. It was found a room carved into the rock under a central square, measuring 27 square meters, has a wooden plank floor suspended on a layer of stones and is divided into two areas: one dedicated to kiwis (stove) and the practice of sauna and the other to change clothes and wash. It faces north, with a splendid view of the valley and an olive garden. It was built by hand and with simple tools (mainly saws and manual hammers). A social dynamic of cooperation, excitement and pride among the inhabitants of Artena has been triggered ("The sauna has shown us that if artenesi come together, they can do anything from nothing") and a discussion on how to manage a good that is not neither private nor public, but common ("Who will take care of the sauna?", "How should we regulate its access and keep its free use?", etc.).
3. Artistic and cultural activities

The main conferences were held by Marwa Al-Sabouni, Ghassan Jansiz, Marco Casagrande, Sergio Los, Fotios Katsaros, Sara Bissen, Robin Monotti Graziadei, Natasha Pulitzer, Kevin Blythe Sampson, Nando Bertolini, Fabio Rampelli, Stefano Serafini, Sabrina Fantauzzi, Matteo Riccelli, Melek Aksoy and Paolo Masciocchi. Yeter Tan and Zana Kibar of Göç İzleme Derneği presented the documentary "Sur: Ax û Welat" on urbananicida. Kevin Blythe Sampson has created a site-specific sculpture entitled "Time Is On My Side", located next to the outer wall of the sauna. Beju Dudali left his work, "Dudali", which dominates the valley from the terrace of the Mulo Brigante. Cesar Melgar explored Sabaudia with his photographic lens. Robin Monotti Graziadei provided a reading of Pasolini and Malaparte. Sara Bissen played A Forest of Words with Melek Aksoy, who started Plato's pharmacy, presenting her printed book for the occasion. The leaves of Aksoy Çatal Hüyük and Bissen remain in Artena as the original alphabetic constellations of Serafini's contribution "Roots in the Sky".

The exhibition Ultra Civitatis Ruinam - Beyond Urban Destruction. Pian della Civita. Montefortino. Artena. Stories of Urban Destruction, Resurgence and Ryzhomes was held at ARTEMUSA - Archaeological Museum of Artena "Roger Lambrechts" from 13 to 16 July 2019. Presented by Massimiliano Valenti, urban planner, archaeologist and museum director, selected works by international artists and local guests the artists were exposed among the archaeological finds, with works by: Kevin Blythe Sampson, Maxim Atayants, Cesar Melgar, Mihaela Negrii, Beju Dudali, Daniela Ricasoli and Iros Bianchi. The idea of ​​discussing the topic of urban destruction, memory and art will continue to collaborate with the museum. "Micro-space Untouched by Humans", by Tatjana Capuder Vidmar, will be exhibited in the coming months.

During the school the following books were launched: S. Bissen and S. Serafini, After Dark: the social value of sunlight in Artena through its urban codes, Artena 2019; S. Bissen, This Is Not Topsoil, Artena 2019; S. Los, Cities and landscapes as symbolic systems, Artena 2019; M. Aksoy, Plato's Pharmacy: My Memory Atlas I, The Landscape of the Soul, Istanbul 2019; I. Erdem, Y. Tan & Z. Kibar, Report on human rights violations against women and their experiences during the curfew and forced migration, Istanbul 2019.

The school is a product of the ISB and was designed, directed and managed by Stefano Serafini and Sara Bissen. The school has been entirely self-financed and is proud of its independence from any academic, political and economic institution, being open to any voice capable of discussing.
Participants include Eng. Jan Sufyan, Prof. Arch. Tatjana Capuder Vidmar, Arch. Christiaan Zandstra, Arch. Uğur Sağlam, Arch. Anu Mantsinen, Arch. Bas Oudenaarden, Arch. Emmaliisa Reinikainen, Arch. Gabriele Mundula and Arch. Nur Sipahioğlu who was involved in 22 hours of lessons, 25 hours of seminar and 8 hours of visits / excursions. Prof. Arch. Vibhavari Jani joined for two days. The journalist, Marlo Safi, attended the school to cover it for The National Review (U.S.A.).
The summer school was visited by the Vice President of the Italian Parliament, Fabio Rampelli, an architect interested in human-centered design, and by representatives of the Municipality of Artena, Augusto Angelini and Carlo Scaccia. Princess Nike Arrighi Borghese, artist, participated in her inauguration.
The activity of the summer school was reported by the following press organizations: The National Review, Elle Italia, La Nuova Tribuna, Rome Daily News, Policy Maker, AG Cult and Il Secolo d’Italia.
Several participants are currently working on developing the school's results in writing and in other forms. We expect interesting results to come from this experience, which more than one participant has defined as "life change".


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