Quirine Kennedy
1999
Owning the void
The history and practice of architecture has generally ignored the lives, needs, aspirations and work of women. The concrete landscapes that surround us reinforce a conventional patriarchal definition of women’s role in society, this controlling of space leaves imprints. To simply be in space says a lot about one's (privileged) position—power is reinforced by keeping movement constrained and criminalising presence.
Owning the void draws a parallel between weeds and tree roots forming bumps – in a rigid concrete landscape – and bodies in modes of protest. This project is made in solidarity with bodies that don’t experience bodily autonomy in public space and non-conforming bodies that reject the white patriarchy.