Research Against Architecture (USA, 2007-2009)
Lech Szporer, Slanted Ladder, New York, USA, 2008, photographic print (limited edition)
Studies Against Architecture (USA, 2007-2009)
These are a series of visual revolts against architecture, codes of conduct, and social etiquette. Research Against Architecture explored the various ways in which the body can withstand the unspoken expectations encourage by our environmental surroundings, exposing the disturbing effect of inaction and non-performance in public spaces.
Lech Szporer, Subway Suicide, New York, USA, 2007, photographic print (limited edition)
Lying Down: Sistine Chapel (Vatican City, 2007)
Lying on the floor of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Enacting inactive authorities.
Lech Szporer, Lying Down: Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, 2006, screenshot print (limited edition)
Lying Down: Museum of Modern Art (USA, 2007)
Lying on the floor of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, USA. Enacting inactive authorities.
Lying Down: Lucca (Lucca, Italy, 2007)
Lying down in the middle of the street in Lucca, Italy. Enacting inactive authorities.
Noise Projects/Feedback Intervention: Pantheon (Rome, Italy, 2007)
Subversively creating feedback using a hidden microphone connected to a small battery-powered amplifier while visiting the Pantheon in Rome, Italy.
Noise Projects/Feedback Intervention: Catskills (New York, USA, 2007)
Creating feedback using a microphone connected to a small battery-powered amplifier in the Catskills, New York, USA.
Noise Projects/Feedback Intervention: Colosseum (Rome, Italy, 2007)
Creating feedback using a microphone connected to a small battery-powered amplifier in front of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy.
Moving A Mountain/Disassemblage and Demarcation of a Crag in the Catskills (New York, USA, 2007)
Physically disassembling and relocating a mountainside in the Catskills, New York, USA.
Remaining By Agitated Dogs for the Period of A Cigarette (New York, USA, 2008)
Standing outside the gates of a scrapyard with guard dogs to smoke a cigarette in Brooklyn, NY.
Lech Szporer, Remaining By Agitated Dog for the Period of a Cigarette, New York, USA, 2006, screenshot print (limited edition)
Synchronicities: Rome/NY (Rome, Italy & New York, USA, 2007)
A series of actions were synchronized between Mathew Blair and I while in two different countries: Rome, Italy, and New York, USA, (namely, the old and new empires). The time-specific synchronized actions consisted of drinking a coffee, smoking a cigarette, jumping into the main river of the city (the main artery of the empire), smashing a bottle and collecting the shards of glass, and finally having a second coffee and smoking a second cigarette. We started at 6:01pm in New York/12:01am in Rome. This project was exhibited at Miami Art Basel through NYR Gallery in 2007.
Lech Szporer/Matthew Blair, Synchronicities: Rome/New York (Empire), New York, USA, 2007, screenshot print (limited edition)
Synchronicities: New York/Berlin (New York, USA & Berlin, Germany)
The second synchronicity took place between New York, USA, and Berlin, Germany (namely, the old and new fallen empires). The two of us simultaneously walked about each respective city blindfolded.
Throwing 33 Chairs Into The East River (New York, USA, 2007)
33 discarded chairs were thrown into the East River from Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Lech Szporer, Throwing 33 Chairs Into The East River, New York, USA, 2007, photographic print (limited edition)
Furniture Sculpture/Installation (New York, USA, 2008-2009)
Below are a series of Furniture Sculptures or Furniture Heaps made by combining and balancing various pieces of furniture and household items into clutters held in suspension. These works were inspired by Philip Guston’s later paintings.
Lech Szporer, Guston Ball With Birdcage And Umbrella, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Guston Ball With Slanted Ladder, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Two Chairs Balanced On A Pencil, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Two Chairs Balanced On A Pencil With Sideways Ladder, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Inverted Ladder With Two Chairs, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Clutter Tree SoH Studio, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Two Chairs Balanced With Pipe and Drill, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Clutter Tree, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Drew Lying Below Furniture Sculpture, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Double Chair Flight, New York, USA, 2008, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Chair in Cabinet, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Against Architecture Classes (New York, USA, 2009)
Against Architecture Classes were held weekly throughout a month where a series of exercises and homework challenges were assigned to students such as wearing only one sock for a day to suspending oneself to exploring architectural and urban spaces blindfolded.
Lech Szporer, AA Class: Ceiling Suspensions, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Against Architecture Class: Ceiling Suspensions, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Against Architecture Homework: One Sock, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Against Architecture Homework: One Sock, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Against Architecture Class: Blindfolded, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Lech Szporer, Against Architecture Class: Blindfolded, New York, USA, 2009, photographic print (limited edition)
Blind Walks (New York, USA, 2008-2009)
A series of blind walks were conducted by blindfolding participants and having them reencounter everyday activities while being deprived of their sense of sight.
Lech Szporer, Blind Walk Invite, 2008
Lech Szporer, Manhattan Blind Walk Digital Map, 2008
Fridge Push (New York, USA, 2005)
This was an early simple action about moving a large discarded refrigerator several feet for no reason other than to displace the object.
Forward/Backward Walk (Miami, USA, 2007)
This was another simple examination of a person walking forwards next to a person walking backwards.
Territorial Re-contextualizations
Territorial Re-contextualizations are schematics for conceptual annexations and reterritorializations or territorial recontextualizations.
Lech Szporer, The Annexation of Tennessee’s 42 Peripheral Counties by 8 Bordering States, USA, 2007, schematic print
Lech Szporer, Territorial Recontextualizations, USA, 2007, schematic print
Neath Stair Fill/Diagonalism
Diagonal lines appear in a lot of Futurist paintings from the historical Avant-Garde era between the two World Wars because diagonal lines were considered energetic and disruptive to their surroundings. Diagonalism was about invigorating the viewer. The negative space beneath a staircase in the basement of The Sanctuary of Hope was filled with trash.
Lech Szporer, Neath Stair Fill, USA, 2007, schematic print
Acknowledgements: Works such as Lying Downs, Feedback Interventions, Synchronicities, Subway Suicide, Moving A Mountain, and Throwing 33 Chairs were documented with the help of Diana Boros.