Leefwerk: Roman Luterbacher and Niels Coppens
Production Phase
Interaction Phase
Public Presentation
Project Title - PUBLIC'S CONTENT BUREAU
LEEFWERK creates artistic interventions or art 'as an excuse' to bring people together. During their residency in Kolkata, they discovered that the Adda culture could serve as a valuable tool to unite the linguistic diversities of the city under a shared canopy, allowing them to delve into the cultural psyche and better understand the people of Kolkata.
Simultaneously, they explored different parts of the city, aiming to comprehend the peculiarities of various social classes. By the second week of their stay, they ventured out extensively, visiting malls, cinema halls, street markets, railway stations, and ghats. They interacted with locals during these outings, many of whom requested selfies.
Situated in the Alipore neighbourhood, LEEFWERK proposed working on their project nearby. Adapting to city's cultures and customs and considering the Adda culture, they set up an office on the sidewalk. Passersby were encouraged to share their thoughts, which formed the basis for the punchline they painted.
The project's goal, according to LEEFWERK, was to capture the zeitgeist of Kolkata and understand what occupies people's minds. During the project, her role involved facilitating communication between the local people and conveying Niels and Roman's words to those engaging in conversations.
The project evolved daily, with one of them primarily approaching people while a translator facilitated conversations, inviting them for a cup of tea. The Adda sessions lasted 30 minutes to over an hour and included individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds.
LEEFWERK, Roman Luterbacher on left and Niels Coppens on right.
The set-up plan of the project- THE PUBLICS CONTENT BUREAU in public space
Painted lines extracted from the interaction with the public – Day 2
Poster of the movie screened at the public space