Cinematic space : events pavilion and digital media gallery at the union grounds Johannesburg

Abstract

The transition from Apartheid urban space to – something else – draws our attention from the fixing moments of historically divided cities to the experience of mobility, interaction and the dynamism of space. (Robinson 1999: 163) This dissertation will approach the modern, post-colonial and post-apartheid African city as experimental ground for exploring, understanding and expressing spatial dynamics through the visual language of cinema. The proposal intends to mediate between the complex historical context which is manifested in the built fabric of the city and the new dynamic and often unstable urban conditions of Johannesburg, by specifically focusing on the contrasting conditions of the Johannesburg Art Gallery and the Noord Street Taxi Rank. The role of cinema as a philosophical device in this dissertation is to produce a point of inception, an assemblage, or a terrain of encounter through which the project will be further investigated and articulated. The principal aim of the dissertation is to effectively react to contrasting aspects of both heritage and transience, whilst simulating the Cinematic Gaze, by creating a public platform that serves as an aperture for viewing as well as an urban stage with the potential to be viewed. The hypothesis states that, if successfully applied, cinematic space can accentuate the unique and vibrant conditions of the inner city. This will ultimately lead the city dweller to a better sense of association with his/her immediate surroundings and a better comprehension of his/her role in place-and-time in the urban environment