American Dream (2012)

At the time she first conceived this piece, Ríchard was questioning the concept of  “the home” in society in general, and more specifically, for American society .  “Dwelling” is considered to be the essence of the human being, it means living in the world and thus fulfilling it’s citizen role, as neighbor and host. The human must position oneself in front of existence and especially towards others. This is ethics: the quest for one’s position in the society.

A dwelling place could be of various kinds: house, apartment, home, guest house, houseboat, monastery, hut, tent or yurt in the desert, some shelter we built (1).  But it must be possible to close the door, “our door”; having an intimate space of retreat, respite, a break with the public space. Entering into his private space, the human being reaches the concept of reflection: a base to the relation to oneself, self-knowledge and self-preoccupation. This is the Ithaca of Ulysses (2), which relieves fatigue, wanderings, and the struggles of daily life.

“Living” is also to be related to a place, a space, to fill it with yourself, not only as a material body. The living space is colored by the subjectivity of it’s inhabitants, thier vibrations, memories and footprints.

—Kenza Amrouk
Cultural Project Manager / Writer

(1) Martin Heidegger,  « Building, Dwelling, Thinking » Essays and lectures II, Gallimard, 1958.

1. Translation. Albert Halstad, Harper.New York, 1971

(2) Homer “ The Odyssey” Translated by Robert Eagles – Introductions and notes by Bernard Know.
Published by the Penguin Group, 1997.