Spatial collage, sculpture (3D print)
Throughout the centuries, Diocletian’s Palace in Split has been adapted to the various everyday needs of its inhabitants. With the space becoming ever denser, some parts of the Palace have become “enclosed” within its interiors, creating a complex relationship between private property and cultural heritage. Today, such spaces are often transformed into tourist apartments, hotels, and restaurants, and insight into these spatial situations, which are often obstructed from our view, can be gained only through online accommodation rental platforms. The specifics of the Palace described here are interpreted through the lens of the spatiality of children’s architectural toys (specifically Barbie Dreamhouse and Polly Pocket), defined by remarkable transformations and unexpected relationships between interior and exterior spaces. These toys encourage pretend play, becoming imaginary substitutes for what is unavailable to us in real life, while simultaneously becoming a status symbol or unattainable object of desire. In the same vein, a sustainable solution to the housing issue remains an unattainable dream for many residents of tourist areas, while for others, real estate becomes a toy surrendered to the whims of the market’s game. This spatial collage was created by mimicking the principles of space dissolution and efficiency derived from the Barbie house, scenography, altarpieces, and spatially economical apartment furniture. It was produced by combining photography and architectural 3D visualization, offering an alternative way of visualizing the imaginative phase that precedes the materialization of space.
Technical associates:
Glorija Lizde, Goran Radošević, Toni Šare
Installation view photo credits:
Glorija Lizde
