„Dan“, 2014, Reto Jeltsch, room space experience (situation trouvée/perception piece)

Technical requirements: active, mobile internet access (smartphone or tablet, headphones)


Location: baptistery chapel St. Peter & Paul, Baslerstrasse 49, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland. The modern concrete church, designed in 1967 by the Swiss architect Fritz Metzger, is located near the village center of Allschwil, a suburb of Basel, and can be reached in a few steps from the stop „Binningerstrasse“ on streetcar line No. 6

The spatial situation „Dan“ can be experienced in the baptistery of the church, whose separate entrance is slightly set back on the right side of the church square and to the left of the free-standing bell tower. The room of the chapel, which is about 9 meters wide and 13 meters long, is connected with the main prayer room of the church by a passage door in the rear part and can also be entered in this way


On the back wall to the left behind the main entrance of the chapel there is a row of wooden chairs set up; it is recommended to perceive the spatial situation from the chair that is on a straight line to the light of the candle placed at about head level on the opposite front wall behind the stone altar

The spatial experience is supported by the music pattern „The Sweet Outro“ (03:26 min.), which is played through headphones by clicking on the „Play Button“ of the audio-player

 

 

 

Once the music starts playing, start reading the following instruction text lines:

 

 

 

Perceive the atmosphere of the surrounding room situation – the diffuse daylight entering the room through narrow glazed slits in the ceiling, the slightly flickering glow of the candlelight installed on the front wall, the stone altar, the brickwork in the back of the room, the rows of wooden chairs, the soundtrack over headphones to it –

now concentrate the gaze on the flame of the candle on the front wall, gradually focus the flame: perceive how the room atmosphere changes as you do so –

atmosphere

space


 


situation

 

 

 

 

 

(Note: The church rooms are always open during the day and it is pointed out to be considerate of churchgoers, respectively to perform the room perception „Dan“ only outside of any church services. In addition, sound patterns are played exclusively through headphones)

 

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