g.h. hovagimyan lecture + demo

G. H. Hovagimyan began his lecture by
distributing newspaper handouts. The papers described demonstrations by a group of artists (artistsmeeting.org) including G.H. that brought attention to the irony and injustice that is privately owned public space. Outside of every major office building is a space with benches and some neatly planted trees or plants. Very rarely does anyone ever use this space, to sit in or otherwise, even by the people who work in the overshadowing building. What G.H. and other artists try to demonstrate, or draw light to, the heightened security that these sites maintain in a post 9/11 world. Simple and innocent acts such as putting up posters, using a video camera, or conducting an experiment constantly draw negative attention by these guards. Herein lies the contradiction that is privately owned public space--where the private interests of protecting and safeguarding their property comes into direct conflict with the public who try to utilize it. By uploading videos of these accounts to YouTube, more people are being made aware of this irony and ultimate unfairness, leading to possible social and legal improvements.