Prototype Site Mexico DF

'If you have never been in the historic center of Mexico DF you don’t know what it means to turn up all your senses full blast to 11. the noise, the colors, the smells, the proximity of the bodies of thousands of people up and down the streets moving with ease around the cars, the ‘vendedores ambulantes’, the bicycles, the police, food stalls… and just around the corner from it all, a cul-de-sac, between the palacio de autonomia and the templo mayor, which is where our installation took place.'

'This was without a doubt our most ‘public installation’ in terms of social engagement with the local community while producing the work. in the historical center of Mexico DF it is impossible not to be part of what happens in the street if you are working in the street, it absorbs you. We began work with a team of volunteers provided by the Abierto Mexicano de Diseño but very fast it became a much larger affair, children living in the area got involved within seconds, asking questions, playing with the bubble wrap, wanting to participate. on the first day we managed to finish the structure and to ‘upholster it’ with the packing materials, ready to be rendered with the stickers the day after.’

‘we find that people have a very different reaction to these installations before and after they are covered by stickers. the before looks weirdly naked, like an animal missing its skin, all the muscles and bones exposed… wood, bubble wrap, packing tape. it might even look like a pile of rubbish if you have never seen one finished before, certainly the people working and living in the area didn’t seem very convinced about it when we left the first day. ‘are you going to leave this here? for how long? what is this for?’ they asked.’

‘the day after was a different story, as soon as we started rendering it with stickers it became a party, lots of people joined in, both working and looking, a near by shop started playing music loudly, then more people arrived, little stalls selling food, we had started a street party!!’

Excerpt from Andy Butler's interview for Designboom Nov 01, 2013