Muungano
“La-la land” by Muungano (January 2nd, 2006)
As designers and architects we have an ambiguous relation to the problems of today. On one hand a profession and a national (Swedish) history that implies a social and humanistic perspective on our production. On the other we are always more or less dependent on an approval from an economical or political power to realize our ideas. It is this ambiguity that will be the foundation for our project in Civic Matters.
On critical design in commercial systems. We will use the events / the city / the people in LA as a background for production of a product / piece of art.
By three different media; a movie and “sculptures” and text. These three parts will result in a final product designed for art shops, bookstores or other progressive outlets for pop/art culture. We hope that with three media be able to communicate a narrative that is as complex, in the sense of meaningful, as possible.
Our question at issue is 3 different 1. What is the difference between artistic and commercial production? How do you relate to a contemporary social complexity in the different fields? In what sense does content and context matters for the reading or use of the products or pieces of art?
2. How does one, as designer, handle the relation between signs and structure? Between material and meaning? In what way does an artistic and economical autonomy affect this relation?
3. How does one do to fiancé, sell, produce and distribute products or pieces of art? What are differences between the two?
Production in LA. La la-land is made of three parts. These are built on three different matters of communication.
Movie. Will be recorded on site in LA. But later on cut and edited in Sweden. We will avoid a plain documentation of Civic Matters, instead searching for an independent story about LA. The story will not be final set before our arrival in LA. It is opened and the people, events and processes will construct the content. The movie does, of course, relate to LA as the story/ media producer of the world. The story is not final set, but will be
Sculpture. Will be produced in LA. The shape and content will be decided in Sweden before arrival. The sculptures will be made in sugar at a workshop at LACE.
Text. A theoretical sum up, or model of the project. Will be produced in Sweden after the LA workshop.
As we see it the time in LA is one part of the production of our product / art piece. We hope that the events and meeting during the stay have a continuation after Civic Matters when this will be produced