Agencia de Viaje Time Capsule
- Artist/Author/Producer: Agencia de Viaje - international
collaborative
- Confronting Bodies: Herminio Trigo, Mayor of Cordoba, Spain
- Dates of action: June 1992
- Location: Cordoba, Spain - along the Avenida de la
Confederation, in the southern embankment of the Guadalquivir river
between the Roman and New bridges, and across Cordoba's Great Mosque.
- Description of the Art Work
- The Capsula de Tiempo Cordoba, a public time capsule, is an 85 meter
long trench filled with 35 tons of liquid tar. The project is an active
archeological site that is open to the public in association with Expo '
92 in Spain. The asphalt matrix is ''an open communications system''
into which any one can deliver a message or object. Described by
representatives of the collective , Agencia de Viaje , as a ' 'wishing
well,'' its form ''is constructed by those who contribute to its
contents.''
- Description of incident
- A few days before the scheduled inauguration of the Capsula de Tiempo
in Cordoba, construction permits were not granted and the project was
rejected to another site by City Hall.
After continuous meetings with representatives of the City Hall (
Mayor Trigo never met with Agencia de Viaje ) the project was definitely
rejected. Internal conflicts between the regional government ( Junta de
Andalucla, sponsor of the project ) and the local authorities were a
decisive aspect . The Junta de Andalucia is responsible of preserving the
archeological wealth of the region and is in charge of stopping every new
urban construction in Cordoba when archeological remains are found. It
seems that the city thought that constructing an '' artificial
archeological site'' was a joke coming from the Junta. In its own way,
the Capsula de Tiempo Cordoba reifies the political aspects of the
discussion on preservation versus renovation of our cultural environment.
he Junta. In its own way, the Capsula de Tiempo Cordoba reifies the
political aspects of the discussion on preservation versus renovation of
our cultural environment.
- Results of incident
- Like the weather, these unpredictable administrative forces moved the
site down river to Sevilla, to the grounds of Expo ' 92, where the
project was received. Here, striking a line at the entrance of the 15th
Cartujan monastery, lies the Capsula de Tiempo Cordoba, inaugurated with
the closing ceremonies of the Universal Exposition. Alive and ready for
new archeological writing.
Source: Agencia de Viaje, Sevilla, Spain