maider lopez: ataskoa, artificial traffic jam in the mountains

ataskoa aerea
image © maider lopez

maider lòpez's 'ataskoa' is currently part of the exhibition auto.sueño y materia
(auto.dream and material) at the laboral centro de arte y creación industrial in
gijón, spain. the show, which explores the relationship between car culture
and the creation of art over the last few decades, will be on view until
september 21.

lòpez's ataskoa was a public announcement to create a traffic jam in the hills.
the announcement was made in the newspapers, over the radio, with flyers,
posters, etc. on 18th september 2005, 160 cars (approximately 425 people)
gathered at intza, navarre, on the sides of mount aralar in spain.
the jam started at 11am and ended at 15pm.
upon arrival, cars were distributed on arrival by colour and positioned
along the road.
the 160 volunteering cars also worked as a team to direct the traffic,
organize lunch, take pictures and film the situation from 5 different places.
the traffic jam was meant to congest an area with traffic,
where there normally is none.

maider lopez is a spanish artist who graduated with her masters from the
chelsea college of art and design, london, UK. her work focuses on
interrupting seemingly normal spaces and architecture through unexpected
interventions and performances taking unprepared viewers by surprise.


ataskoa aerea curva
image © maider lopez


ataskoa aralar
image © maider lopez


ataskoa desde basseri
image © maider lopez


ataskoa
image © maider lopez


ataskoa
image © maider lopez

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