My Diagonal Life

3rd November 2010

Photo reblogged from

forwhenifeellikesharing:

deputyjoev:

part of the the Heidelberg Project in Detroit, diggin it! 

My gut reaction to this work of “art” has always been: Do. Not. Like.

I realize it’s supposed to be… Ugh, what? “A commentary” on a deteriorating city or something? I don’t even know. I don’t even feel like “commentary” is appropriate because the word implies the project promotes dialog and is more than just a spectacle. All I get from it is spectacle.

I also find it insensitive to the people who live near it. Like: “Oh hey, I’m a pretentious artist with something to say, so I’m going to buy these properties and send tourists in to gawk at how crappy your neighborhood is and have photos spread around the Internet and make a name for the Project.” To me that’s an exploitative thing to do.

And what has it done in its 20-something years other than make a name for itself? Everyone knows Detroit is in ruin, but does anyone really know why or how things might turn around or even if they can? What has it succeeded in doing other than making a mockery and literal mess out of an economically depressed area? Where’s the humanizing element? It seems to be strictly about creating a bizarre, macabre and ironic experience. I think the mistake of this project is it’s more about creating a surreal experience than it is creating a grounded one and it’s standing on the backs of the poor to do so. That’s a bit repulsive to me.

I have to respectfully disagree.  At the very least, it says: “hey, rest of Michigan and possibly the U.S., there are whole abandoned neighborhoods over here that we can’t afford to tear down.  Look.  Stop ignoring us.”

(Source: Flickr / mswob82)