Parkour Players – The Cosmetology Architecture
10:55
Let's Have Fun..!
In conflict, the political controversies between the parties are considered intangible. Thus, there is an opportunity for architecture to create an influence. Looking at the dialogue of daily spatial resistance shows that within the Israeli policies of occupation, destruction, and killing there were different forms of Palestinian spatial practices, that recast the political equation of conflict on the ground by displaying creative tools within architecture. One of the community practices towards architecture in Gaza was for a group of youth players called Parkour team. Parkour is a training discipline using movement that developed from military obstacle course training. Practitioners aim to get from A to B in the most efficient way possible. This is done using only the human body and the surroundings for propulsion, with a focus on maintaining as much momentum as possible while still remaining safe. Parkour can include obstacle courses, running, climbing, swinging, mantling, vaulting, jumping, rolling, quadrupedal movement, and other, similar movements depending on what movement is deemed most suitable for the given situation.
Recently an essay published in Domus website for the authors; Joseph Grima, and Antonio Ottmanelli; has talked briefly about Parkour in Gaza through an interview they had organized with the team members. Looking at the photos for the team members while they were practicing. And you will notice that the background of these photos shows deconstructed buildings, and deserted spaces. This type of activities can be considered as a form of what can be called " The Cosmetology Architecture ".
The deconstructed buildings in Gaza are architecture, that has been naked of all its positive and constructive values. It becomes a form of dismal architecture with totally negative and deconstructive meanings and values. The buildings that have bombed in Gaza by the Israeli forces and become a rubble today are considered examples of killing memory – with all the past context and the future dreams. The nature of humanity could not accept this havoc, demolition, and desolation. So you will find that the people in Gaza has started the journey of change and community intervention, looking for meanings of beauty, comfort, happiness, and freedom. As a part of this affected community; Parkour team members have started to create their own spaces within the destructed and deserted buildings using their physical abilities. Joseph Grima, and Antonio Ottmanelli in that essay which has been mentioned previously said " Inspired by the nascent sport of parkour, Gaza Parkour Team began to observe the urban fabric of Gaza as a playground through which they could move fluidly, using their bodies—instead of weapons and explosives—to overcome boundaries and barriers.".
To some extend, this can be true. But their behavior can be considered and analyzed as a natural and humanist reaction against the affected and damaged environment itself. In this context; another example can be added; an artist from Gaza who has converted the rubble into artefacts, depending on simple available tools from the environment.
To conclude it is Cosmetology Architecture; created by society as a community intervention among architecture, and against affected environment that has been subjugated by political conflicts (Palestinian – Israeli conflict) in Gaza.
Reference:
BALBO, Laurie (2014). Gaza Parkour: positive change is in the air. [online]. Last updated 02 December. http://www.greenprophet.com/2014/12/gaza-parkour-positive-change-is-in-the-air/
CATERS NEWS AGENCY (2015). Incredible footage shows Palestinian teens doing parkour as bombs hit Gaza strip only hundreds of metres away. [online]. http://www.catersnews.com/stories/video/incredible-footage-shows-palestinian-teens-doing-parkour-as-bombs-hit-gaza-strip-only-hundreds-of-metres-away/
GRIMA, Joseph and OTTOMANELLI, Antonio (2013). Parkour in Palestine. [online]. Last updated 06 May. http://www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/2013/05/6/parkour_in_palestine.html
THIERRYR, Par (2014). Quand une zone de guerre devient un terrain de jeu : Parkour à Gaza. [online]. Last updated 09 October. http://www.lense.fr/2014/10/09/quand-une-zone-de-guerre-devient-un-terrain-de-jeu-parkour-a-gaza/
This is my story - a visual artist in Gaza converts the remains of destroyed houses into artefacts. (2015). Gaza, Al Jazeera.
WIKIPEDIA (2013). Parkour. [online]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour



0 comments