What is in a name?
Having studied architecture as well as art I described my work in the past as being a crossover between this two fields. Working with architectural elements in an art context and thus making site-specific integrations into a space. This definition doesn’t seem to do the job anymore, so I went looking for a new and more fitting name for my work. (after all it is research ). By analyses I came to the conclusion that most of my works consists of the repetition of architectural elements. By repeating the elements, the focus shifts from the functions witch most Architectural elements embody to the pure shape with is left if you don’t consider their architectural functions. So, what I actually make is architecture with a different function.
Now still the question remains witch name is most fitting for this type of artworks and what is the difference between the different labels I am trying to pin on my work. As it is quite clear my work is rooted in an architectural context this word would be a key element in giving my work a name. And seeing the function of the object also fulfils an important role it would be optimal incorporating this term as well.
So some of the nominees are: Dysfunctional architecture / Trans-functional architecture / Non-functional architecture / Post functional architecture / Sub-functional architecture / Un-functional architecture.
Let’s see what Dictionary.com has to say about the options
func·tion·al [fuhngk-shuh-nl] adjective 1. of or pertaining to a function or functions: functional difficulties in the administration. 2. capable of operating or functioning: When will the ventilating system be functional again? 3. having or serving a utilitarian purpose; capable of serving the purpose for which it was designed: functional architecture; a chair that is functional as well as decorative. 4. Also, func·tion·al·is·tic. (of a building or furnishing) constructed or made according to the principles of functionalism or primarily as a direct fulfillment of a material need. 5. Medicine /Medical . without a known organic cause or structural change: a functional disorder. Compare organic.
dys·func·tion·al [dis-fuhngk-shuh-nl]adjective 1. not performing normally, as an organ or structure of the body; malfunctioning. 2. having a malfunctioning part or element: It is hard to get bills through a dysfunctional congress. 3. behaving or acting outside social norms: All the siblings in their extremely dysfunctional family lost contact as adults.
trans- 1. a prefix occurring in loanwords from Latin (transcend; transfix); on this model, used with the meanings “across,” “beyond,” “through,” “changing thoroughly,” “transverse,” in combination with elements of any origin: transisthmian; trans-Siberian; transempirical; transvalue. 2. Chemistry . a prefix denoting a geometric isomer having a pair of identical atoms or groups on the opposite sides of two atoms linked by a double bond. Compare cis- (def. 2) . 3. Astronomy . a prefix denoting something farther from the sun (than a given planet): trans-Martian; trans-Neptunian.
non- a prefix meaning “not,” freely used as an English formative, usually with a simple negative force as implying mere negation or absence of something (rather than the opposite or reverse of it, as often expressed by un-1): nonadherence; noninterference; nonpayment; nonprofessional .
post- a prefix, meaning “behind,” “after,” “later,” “subsequent to,” “posterior to,” occurring originally in loanwords from Latin ( postscript ), but now used freely in the formation of compound words (post- Elizabethan; postfix; postgraduate; postorbital).
sub- 1. a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin ( subject; subtract; subvert; subsidy ); on this model, freely attached to elements of any origin and used with the meaning “under,” “below,” “beneath” (subalpine; substratum), “slightly,” “imperfectly,” “nearly” ( subcolumnar; subtropical), “secondary,” “subordinate” ( subcommittee; subplot )
un- a prefix meaning “not,” freely used as an English formative, giving negative or opposite force in adjectives and their derivative adverbs and nouns ( unfair; unfairly; unfairness; unfelt; unseen; unfitting; unformed; unheard-of; un-get-at-able ), and less freely used in certain other nouns ( unrest; unemployment ).
Looking at the six options two of them seem completely wrong. Un- and non- functional are not an option. By taking away the primal function of the architectural element the artwork doesn’t lose his function, but the function just shifts. So those two are out, leaving just with dys-, trans-, post- and sub-. Out of this 4 I think dys- and trans- are the most accurate. Post- witch freely is explained as behind or after doesn’t measure up because it implies that the function was there to begin with and was lost at one time. But the primal function imbedded in the original architectural element was never a part of the artwork I produce. So something that is not there to begin with can certainly not be lost. The next one in sub- witch can freely be translated in under or below. I don’t like this one because it implies an order in things. This would mean that the function I give to the artwork is less important than the superior function that was given by the architect. That is something I don’t agree with. So we have left dys- and trans-. I think the most accurate of the two is trans-functional. This term loosely translated as beyond or across gives the right idea. The function isn’t lost but transformed in to something new. This term also doesn’t imply an hierarchical order in the two function imbedded in the artwork and the architectural element. The first function is just substituted by an other new function. This leaves us just with the one term left. Dysfunctional architecture, this term I also like because of it connotation. It has something bad in it, something anarchistic, something rebellious. Being a visual artist you are not know for being a law-abiding citizen. You are known as being somewhat of a wild child, someone who lives by his own set of rules. So in short this are the two terms I will be using for now. Trans-functional architecture and Dysfunction architecture. Trans-functional architecture when I am explaining my work to intellectuals and other people from the art scene. And Dysfunctional architecture when I talk to architects to reinstate my name as the enfant terrible of the architect scene and in bars when I drag about my work. The only thing left to do now is finding a fitting translation in to Dutch ….
Ive J.K. Leemans. 