Shuffle ← Back

Transient Terminals

Performing Arts, Visual Arts

‘Transient Terminals’
4-hour action involving public participation, 3 installation structures (frame work, wood, cement and paint)

Al Mahatta, Raghadan, Abdali, and The Nothern Terminal;

'Momentary spaces of transition, a public space underconstant transformation, relocation and interruption; mapped by ephemeralmonuments resembling the momentum power of change in the growing city of Amman.
A temporary route connecting the transient terminals in the city of transiturbanity charged by the constant flux of its people who forever shape andreshape it’s being.'
This work investigates the current transformation of the urban public scene in Amman into a business and tourism spectacles, and one example of that is Raghadan Bus Terminal in downtown Amman; which has been over the past 35 years a major transportation terminal, from areas around Amman and to cities like Zarka and Karak. A public space that is used for all aspects of urban life; for connection, transport, for orientation, to meet, to buy, to sell, to exchange, to play, to protest…

In 2006, and with the support of The Japanese Bank for International Cooperation, (which has sponsored several tourist projects in Jordan), a JD7 million makeover , a permanent structure was created to house bus and taxi service along with a modern commercial centre, built on 34,000 square metres, and a 12,000 square metres built-up area… a project that is part of a large-scale downtown renovation project..

Consequently and for the construction period, a lot of the local businesses were effected, a number of kiosk owners had to be relocated to temporary facilities on Al Mahatta Street and other temporary transport terminals in and around Mahatt. But the main issue was the re-location of downtown-Jebel Hussein service cabs operating line to the new Raghadan Touristic Complex. Many Jordanians over the period of 35 years grew accustomed to the operating line that was changed in the name of modernity...Fees had to be paid from the taxi drivers to rent a spot in the new terminal, which a lot found inconvenient since they are already loosing their passengers who found the move very problematic.
'Absent monument' acrylics over an ink jet print, 42cm x 29.7cm
'Absent monument' acrylics over an ink jet print, 42cm x 29.7cm
The project failed, and its now a ghost town, a couple of service lines still work from there, the project killed the urban fabric in the last 7 years, the surrounding shops are now all out of business … The terminal is once again moved to even a further location on the peripheries of Amman, and the JD7 million structure that was created is now accommodating temporary offices until they figure out what to make use of the empty 12,000 sq.m.
These projects start in the streets between the public as rumors, small talks between the vendor, the customer, or the different actors behind it. And rumors are as ephemeral as the projects they are about ..
My initial idea is to encourage rumors, fabrications of urban myths, and involving the local public in the game and using the taxi service line ( the stops, the cab, the terminal..) to transport not only the passengers but their rumors too.. Humor is complex, laughter may be a nervous reaction to our failure to how else to respond to something .
Study models and collages for the ephemeral monument
Gallery view,
Process documentation at Makan house
The monument represented in the work as a watchtower, is a symbol for an ephemeral transient state of change in the city; which in the video it is a collage of construction structure; carried around by the people of the city, a cycle were people are the core of change in their city; yet they are burdened with these transformations.
A watchtower is a harsh representation of the power in the city, which forces changes yet theses changes are so ephemeral as their effect on the urban public fabric of the city.
Stills form video animation, 8:00 minutes with sound
The on-site performance,
Structures/stops were carried around the four main terminals in the city, first placed at their own terminals, then swapped with the help of the public, marking terminals they are not.