2004 Hoftoren-project: Guardian - a performative installation by Kristen Cooper / curated and produced by DAI / commisioned by the Ministry of Education

DAI, Werkplaats Typografie and ArtEZ Fashion Masters were invited to curate shows at the Ministry of Education in The Hague.

DAI presented: Guardian, a performance and installation by Kristen Cooper

Hoftoren, The Hague
March 4-20 2004

Installation of A Visual: Guardian

Between the columns of the corridor stand two aviaries, both built systematically based on the needs of the Zebra Finches flying inside. A girl arrives each morning to care for the birds. She climbs her ladder to pull back the curtains of the aviaries and begins a ritualized action of feeding them, providing water to them, and cleaning their surroundings. She travels back and forth between the two aviaries and the facilities of the Hoftoren. She works until her duty has been completed for the day. She will return again tomorrow.

A Perspective: We are Fed Inspiration

"Human behavior is an artifact of system, being both natural and artificial in the same moment. A system creates an invisible border where once inside we are teased by the illusion of choice, while if we reject it, there must be an explanation answering why. We are role-players engaged inside the boundary. System, ritual, and tradition mingle, and encourage our parts as actors. Ritual evolves out of a reaction, tradition continues repetition, and system informs the two, giving us placement within a grid. They do not watch us, they direct us.The way we are fed the ideas of ritual, tradition and system create our 'choice.'

Placing a situation within an existing situation, as in Guardian, reflects this conditioning on a broad scale. It contains no answer, only the opportunity for personal infinite regression and reflection. My role is like your role, it makes me act. Ritual is born out of comprehending the situation- finding a way to do what needs to be done. Tradition is the ritual repeated, and both are based out of the setting I find myself in as a role-player." Kristen Cooper

Documentation by J.T.K.V. Koh