Absent Conversation

Absent Conversation 1.1

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Description: Public telephone booths have recently been removed from the streets of Paris.  Authorities stated the reason for the removal was their limited use now that everyone had a mobile phone.  Just two public telephone booths would remain in each arrondissement.  The removal of these iconic forms from the streetscape of Paris dramatically changed the footpath environment and also eliminated this utility architecture being used by the homeless as shelter.  As these concrete, metal and glass structures had only recently been removed, their foundations remained exposed, or had very recently been covered over with fresh bitumen.  This large-scale systematic removal appeared quite brutal leaving a scar of their previous existence in the footpath.  The Action Researcher/Performer made a sign with the words 'Conversation absente' and placed it upon the foundations of recently removed public telephone booths throughout the city.

© Astra Howard 2014