What can not be, and how clima makes culture or dismantles it

This project had from the starting point an element of an expedition to a difficult territory and turned out to be full of adverse conditions, including a persistent bad weather.

As it was impossible to walk around at all and was so wet, grey and cold, it was such an anti–climax that the only thing to do and the only thing that had remained was the conversations with my host at De La Charge (a young artist lead space) about Escuela de Calor and its very essence, about its possibility of happening, and how it had became clear that not North would ever be able to actually sustain an Escuela de Calor situation.

Only the South, only warmth, only gardens, swimming pools or urban areas (calles, plazas) of Mediterranean springs/summers could become the site specific that a work like this requires.

After, the walks, the cold, the rain, the talks, the thinking etc … the gallery space was only used as our Tent in the dessert of Rain, our refuge or camp base; we inhabit it, expend time meditating and discussing, having hot tea and cakes … notes where taken, drawings made, objects arranged so that we will discuss, sometimes passionately about what really matter to us and why.

Our opinions were very different and we argued quite a lot.

But conversation based situations, and my position as a mediator meant to just leave doors open.

The idea of Philosophy as the place left for Art to feel free, and the Idea of The fixed Object that holds materially all the possible meanings, was deeply questioned and discussed.

S could not really understand my work (because he wanted to understand, he was taken by the opposed spirit necessary for the experience)

Objects “trouvés” on the few small derives made as short escapes between pouring skies and dry short lapses of time.

Brussels, fragments, discoveries, spirits, history, topics, ghosts ……

The African colonisers and genocide, its resources in its delicate dark Belgium chocolate where raising from everywhere at every corner, haunting every step. Even from online-post found about the genocide at the hands of Leopold II, which had been so hidden for so long (usually letting us know only about one and only Holocaust, in Germany).

From Tintin au Congo, shown with no shame in book-shops, from images, African mask and fetiches at the flee market and old antiques shops where Congo is still for sale.

Free Association exercises that Stephane will channel while “finding” The Lion King fabric ( which was already generating quite a polemic and morals) or books about Swords. A heated fight between us, when I tried to censure S for choosing The Lion King fabric finding it un-respectful for the sake of history and suffering.

S reasonings for taking the fabric back, for defending his legitimacy at using whatever he wanted. And my self realising once more than “my teachings” could not became “authoritarian” even if I felt so uncomfortable about certain objects or choices.

By having to dialogue with S’s disbelieve and challenges, the spirit of what Escuela de Calor has been till now was submitted to reason and study, the North needs explanations and structures.

The rational mind of the French educated S, was very much exposed during the exercises.

We finally arranged all the bits, various left overs and objects of dilema and heated polemics in the cold manner of the structuralist anthropologist.

As it was we open it to any one to visit, but the event was not very much like an art opening.

It occurred to me, that some how the premonition of failure had been transformed on to a found certainty: Escuela de Calor can only be explained as a concept as a real thing that only happens far from here.

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