T14- Liverpool

This lecture was on the work that Biennial were doing in Liverpool. Sadly, Paul Domela didn't really explain what his company did or his role within it. I spent most of the lecture trying to ascertain exactly why they were doing what they were doing.

Liverpool's housing stock is in a sad state. The slum clearance has really scarred the landscape and demolished the communities within it. It's sad to hear that even now residents are unsure of the future of their homes. Living in limbo is just as destructive as knowing your home is to be demolished imminently. The projects that are going on are fantastic as they cope with the situation as it is. The street parties and frontage decoration make life a little more bearable for the residents.

Without doubt, the artists they worked with were inspiring- I really want a neon cat to brighten up our block of flats. It made me think we need more art projects 'just for fun'. No message, just a small token to brighten up peoples day and get them talking. You won't be able to get a statistic on the value that a blue neon polar bear adds to the area, but that makes it no less important.

I still don't quite understand Biennial, how it's funded or chooses it's projects but the stuff it does seems to directly impact the residents of Liverpool, who in some ways are forgotten.