Visual Arts Programme
The Concourse Installation 2003
36m2
John D Morris
The hard edged solidity of John D Morris's 36m2 invites interrogation from the passing viewer. We must walk around and search for the entrance point, to a structure which at first glance seems to be a large impenetrable, wooden crate. A dense wooden structure, painted internally in black with areas delineated in fluorescent tubing, this is in fact the average size of your regular one bedroom apartment. The white neon demarcations lines mark out the spaces- the bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom with only the smallest hint of suggestion for the sink. With some steely determination we bring ourselves to enter the dark, ghostlike space and allow ourselves to be enveloped by the imposing structure.
36m2 is Morris's 3 dimensional realisation of a 2 dimensional architectural drawing and it is purely macabre. Coffin-like, the dark enclosed space is oppressive and claustrophobic. As a society, we have come a long way from living in caves but is this so dissimilar... Confronted with the size, shape and layout of that which many choose to call 'h
ome', we are thrown a serious question as to the type of spaces we now choose to inhabit. The viewer is prompted to question the options available in contemporary society if this is what we resort to for shelter -dark, dank, box-like spaces, lacking in atmosphere, individuality or creativity- ultimately low cost, utilitarian dwellings. Morris makes us question the indiscriminate faith we place in the hands of architects or builders and our own individual judgements and blind acceptance of the uninspiring. Le Corbusier's model for human living, l'Habitation, (the uniform social housing experiment of mid 20 th Century France) has triumphed in contemporary Ireland – 50 years after it failed in France. The Modernists' spiritual affinity of last century with standardization of materials and uniformity of design, have been firmly embraced by today's first time buyer. But sadly not for aesthetic reasons. Nor can we say that this choice has been made because it is the affordable one for the purchaser. Spaces created as the rabbit warrens (and some have said 'slums' ) of the future, are the choices presented to us as a result of an inability to think creatively as a mass, social housing level by those that fund and build these small and uninspiring spaces.
We too are at fault for accepting these spiritless habitations. It is our inability to effectively imagine the spaces we are purchasing and to our detriment that we don't walk away. The single biggest purchase of many people's lives, their first home is bought from 2 dimensional architectural plans, bought without any real feel as to what the space will be like - 36m2 brings this point home.
We easily take the step of such a purchase from a drawing and yet it is difficult to bring ourselves to walk across the 'doorway' and 'inside' the 'apartment' of 36m2. It is a complex feeling to walk from daylight into darkness and it is very emotive. Trust is paramount and it is this feeling that Morris has captured. The consciousness of the decision 'to take the plunge' and jump with both feet into the unknown world of 36m2 and of mortgages, curtain buying, sofa choosing and ultimately facing the next stage in life.
This tangible space is pure architecture, and refreshingly, it is an artist entering the realms of architecture and not an architect being creative within a sculptural context. And Morris's work has that architectural 'built' 3 dimensional feel. There is the lyricism of the utilitarian object, clean lines and honesty of form. A rationalisation, balance and logic. 36m2 is diligent in its uilitarian qualities and the simplicity of its design. As a model for living though, Mies van de Rohe would not have approved - this less is definitely not more.
Kerry McCall
