riitta oittinen

YELLOW HOSE

MY SENSITIVITY to the “unplannedness” of Belgium and Brussels are conditioned by my upbringing in more regulated and rule-observant Finland. I moved from Helsinki to Brussels at the turn of the millennium. As many other Nordic newcomers, I found the local approach to the built environment both carefree and creative. The ways of taking control of space that startled me included the most inventive DIY constructions, the filling up of space with posters and paintings, ad hoc decorations, and various unfinished constructions with an air of improvisation.
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I NOTICED Publique Phone in the very beginning of 2007. Its facade is dominated by a carelessly installed thirty foot long yellow hose shielding - for what it is worth - electric wiring in a way that looks both amusing, amazing and depressing. I took my first picture of this installation, which I at first thought of as temporary, and started to follow the situation. One one occasion, a passer-by told me that there is no point in taking photos any more since the building had just been sold. He obviously took me for a potential buyer.

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THE CALL SHOP was closed at later half of the year 2009. The hose disappeared at the end of the year 2012.

hose_0501_2007_oittinen