The inaugural presentation of ‘The Constructor’ in 2008 unfolded in the outskirts of Yogyakarta in a rural setting. Invited for Art Basel Hong Kong 2023, being part of the curated section ‘Encounters,’ I made a different version featuring five performers collaborating with three local scaffolding builders.
‘The Constructor’ delves into the realm of construction and the perpetual evolution of our built environment. While burgeoning cities contribute to environmental challenges, they simultaneously present a plethora of design possibilities and material innovations. In this iteration, I enlisted bamboo construction specialists, envisioning them as architects of sorts, to encase both myself and fellow performers within bamboo scaffolds. Over a span of five days, another performer came in to stand quietly and a new construction arose, designed by the builders.
Bamboo scaffolding remains a common practice in Indonesia and Hong Kong, where the cityscape is adorned with remarkable constructions that showcase revered building skills and techniques.