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fieldwork - freedom to roam - henny kjellberg
fieldwork - freedom to roam - henny kjellberg

While driving through Mexico last month, there was plenty of opportunity to witness the efforts of people to secure their property.  Gates,  millions of miles of barbed wire, and high walls prevent the crossing of boundaries.  Here are examples from two very different economic situations - one, a barbed wire fence on a barely subsistence farm, and the other a locked hacienda gate.  I'm not sure what anyone will make of the ceramic barbs from Henny's installation that I left (if they are noticed at all).  I do delight though in thinking about the curiosity that might be engendered when someone does eventually stumble upon them!

Submitted by susie osler on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 12:49
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boundaries and gifts

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 04/02/2010 - 10:13.

hi Susie!
I placed Henny's ceramic barb as instructed "on a place where boundaries are being compromised". I chose the barbed wire fence dividing our hacienda and our neighbor's house (the mentally challenged kid who could not stay away from the artists). Unfortunately, I did not have a camera to take a picture of it, as it did not stay there for long...the kid took it as a gift, and continued crossing the fence to visit us. I think he will become a great artist himself :)

fences and neighbours

Submitted by susie osler on Mon, 04/05/2010 - 10:20.

Hi Alicia!
I'm so glad you found a place for the barb.  I remember that chap very well.... He was certainly curious :)  And I think it is pretty wonderful and somehow fitting that he looked upon the barb as a gift.  Continuing to 'breach' the implied contract that a fence is supposed to suggest (if not enforce) - completely unaware that the fence represents anything whatsoever.

I also hung a barb on the fence between the hacienda and the road/laneway.  I wonder if it is still there!
Susie

Leaving traces

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 03/21/2010 - 15:22.

Susie, thank you for your thoughts and for bringing and leaving the barbs. I really like the idea of leaving small, hardly noticeable traces like that, letting the people who might find them the possibility of their having their own imagination coming up with a story for the object.

Nice to think that those pieces was made at the old Rörstrand porcelain factory in Lidköping, Sweden and are now to find in the Mexican country side.

:-)

Henny