Case Study 2: Olafur Eliasson

Relational Aesthetics:

Through the conception of aesthetics, one must articulate that which is sociable and community oriented, in order that the experience that is derived would "inscribe a sense of community" (Birnbaum, 133). As a condition that represents relational aesthetics, the architecture must be conceived through the process of discovering what is socially and immediately relatable and understood by the subject (Birnbaum, 133). By referencing the idea of relational aesthetics that is exhibited within artwork of sociable engagements, including that of Olafur Eliasson, one will be able to create an architecture or spatial condition that will represent, produce, or prompt inter-human relations within the experiencing self (Birnbaum, 134). For such relational aesthetics to occur within the social realm as well as physical realm of architecture, the concept must be integrated into a public domain. However public domain does not mean the implementations of parks or plazas, as such public environments still allows for a fairly private experience. What is instead needed is a spatial condition, made to occur within the accessible public realm that allows for moments of collective perception, and further permits what Rosalind Krauss states, an experience that will change "damaged individual experience into energized collective perception." Doing so may bring mediation between the divide of self and place.

Collective Perception:

Collective experiences and activities will bring to order the disjointed sensorial experiences that lends to an overall crisis of place. Amongst the overall understanding of self, and self within the realm of others, one would be able to form as Olafur Eliasson states "him or herself through engagement with the environment" and in turn, engagement within the realm of collective perception.